Airbus Beluga Transport had intended to use the five A300-600STs to offer transport of loads such as satellites, engines or helicopters, after the availability of other high-capacity types ...

Airbus has pointed to operational issues as the primary reason for its decision to close its specialised A300-600ST Beluga cargo airline, little more than a year after obtaining certification.

The Beluga — billed by Airbus as the world’s biggest cargo plane in terms of volume transported — looks something like a whale, with a rounded fuselage mounted on an Airbus A300-600 base.