Airbus seeks museum homes for retired BelugaST fleet of five

Airbus plans to transfer its fleet of five BelugaST cargo aircraft to museums and educational institutions, following their retirement from active service and the failure of its special cargo airline project.

The manufacturer is conducting discussions with several museums and organizations to determine suitable locations for public display of the A300-600ST Super Transporters. These aircraft are no longer required for active operations after Airbus completed its transition to the larger BelugaXL fleet.

Airbus operated the BelugaSTs through its Airbus Beluga Transport unit until 2024, supporting internal logistics and oversized component transport across its European production network.

The BelugaST entered service more than two decades ago, providing specialized airlift capacity for Airbus’s assembly lines. The fleet has been instrumental in supporting the company’s expansion and complex supply chain requirements.

The BelugaXL, based on the A330 platform, now performs the transport duties previously assigned to the BelugaST, offering greater payload despite the smaller range. Airbus has not announced specific museums selected for the aircraft but confirms the process is ongoing.

Airbus constructed five BelugaSTs in total, and their retirement follows the phased introduction of the BelugaXL beginning in 2019.

The planemaker created Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), and obtained the cargo company’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in 2024, hoping to find customers who needed to transport large volumes of cargo that could not be carried by conventional aircraft. The plan, however, was terminated in 2025.

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