Credit: Airbus
UPDATE: 2026/05/27 11:41 EST BY SUMIT SINGH
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The latest version of the Airbus Transporter, the BelugaXL, is based on the Airbus A330-200F and is built to replace the original Airbus Beluga. The BelugaXL performed its first flight in July 2018 and entered service with Airbus Transport in January 2020. The company built six BelugaXL, providing the necessary transport of oversized aircraft components, including wings.
The Airbus BelugaXL
The BelugaXL is a large transport aircraft with an overall length of 207 ft (63.1 m) and a wingspan of nearly 198 ft (60.3 m). The aircraft has a payload capacity of 111,333 lbs (50,500 kg) and can fly a range of 2,300 NM (4,300 km). The aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 700 turbofan engines, each generating a thrust of 71,000 pound-force (316 kN).
The previous version, Airbus Beluga, is much smaller than the BelugaXL and is designed for Airbus A300-600ST. Similar to its older sibling, the BelugaXL resembles the beluga whale and, hence, is popular among aviation enthusiasts. Plane spotters in the European region are generally eager to spot the unique aircraft during its transport flights between various Airbus sites.
Read the latest Airbus news here.
How to track the Airbus BelugaXL Fleet?
The Airbus BelugaXL fleet consists of six aircraft manufactured and used by Airbus. The aircraft have fleet numbers XL1 through XL6, each having a specific registration. All six BelugaXL are expected to be operating by the end of 2023. The fleet has an average age of just under three years. The identification information for the BelugaXL fleet is listed here:
| Number | Registration | Age |
| XL1 | F-GXLG | 5.9 years |
| XL2 | F-GXLH | 4.6 years |
| XL3 | F-GXLI | 3.4 years |
| XL4 | F-GXLJ | 2.4 years |
| XL5 | F-GXLN | 1.3 years |
| XL6 | F-GXLO | 0.3 years |
There are various tracking websites that provide information about the BelugaXL fleet movements, including FlightRadar24.com and FlightAware.com. The BelugaXL fleet or specific aircraft can be tracked by searching with the above registration information or by typing the aircraft model (Airbus A330-743L Beluga XL).
The flight tracker websites also provide live flight tracking, including departure and arrival destinations and times, current position, airspeed, and flight path. Some websites also allow enthusiasts to put certain aircraft in their favorite lists and receive updates when specific aircraft are on the move.
There is another way of tracking the BelugaXL through a social media handle on X (formerly Twitter). The X handle shows all movements of the Airbus BelugaXL fleet. The channel, named Beluga Tracker (@BelugaXL Tracker), provides specific information about the BelugaXL flight, including route, altitude, and airspeed. The channel description reads,
“I'm a bot that tracks the Airbus Beluga / BelugaXL fleet! If a Beluga is detected in the skies, we will tweet! (This account is not affiliated with Airbus).”
The most recent post (at the time of writing) on the @BelugaXL Tracker shows the following:
"Beluga BGA127H is on the move! Current position: La Giletière, Martigné-sur-Mayenne, Mayenne, Pays de la Loire, France métropolitaine, 53470, France. Cruising at 8,808.72m with an airspeed of 227.55m/s #Beluga #Airbus @AntonovTracker."
Followers of the channel may receive notifications about the social media posts showing BelugaXL movements.
What are your thoughts on the Airbus BelugaXL tracker? Have you used any of the flight tracking websites or social media handles? Share your experience in the comments section.