News / Airbus unveils weighty ambitions for the Beluga as AiBT gains its AOC

Airbus’s outsized air cargo service, Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), should see more commercial use after being awarded its own Air Operator Certificate (AOC).  

The huge capacity offered by the Beluga could plug a gap in the market since the conflict between Ukraine and Russia saw Russian-owned AN-124s leaving the western market following sanctions. 

While three Belugas are available to customers, Airbus said that, due to high demand, the limited slots were quickly booked. 

It explained: “We are currently in a ramp-up phase ...