Kolkata Airport Welcomes Airbus Beluga XL for the First Time

Kolkata: Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) has made history by welcoming the Airbus Beluga XL, the largest aircraft in the Beluga series, on Tuesday night. This marks the first time the airport has accommodated the Beluga XL, which arrived from Bahrain International Airport at 10:43 PM.

The Beluga XL, an upgraded and larger version of the Beluga ST, boasts impressive dimensions, measuring 207 feet in length, 62 feet in height, and a wingspan of 197 feet and 10 inches. It performed its maiden flight in 2018 and received type certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in November 2019, paving the way for its service entry in January 2020.

“This is the first time Kolkata's NSCBI Airport welcomed the Airbus Beluga XL, the largest in its series, carrying essential aircraft components. The flight stopped in Kolkata for crew rest, FDTL and refuelling, as it's the only airport in Eastern India equipped to handle this aircraft,” the Kolkata airport posted on X.

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The Beluga XL is designed primarily to transport oversized cargo, such as aircraft components including wings and fuselages. The flight originated from the Airbus factory in Toulouse (LFBO/TLS) and is transporting equipment to another unit in Tianjin (ZBTJ), China.

The aircraft, which has a crew of three pilots and one engineer, will be refuelled on Wednesday evening, with an expected departure time of 5:50 PM. Currently, it is parked at J1 bay at Kolkata airport, having been received with a ceremonial water salute upon its arrival.

This historic landing underscores Kolkata's growing capabilities in handling large transport aircraft, marking a significant milestone for the airport and the region.