Airbus BelugaXL Makes Rare Heathrow Stop to Deliver Critical A350 Parts for British Airways

An Airbus BelugaXL made a rare appearance at London Heathrow Airport to deliver spare parts for a British Airways Airbus A350 that had been damaged in a previous collision. The BelugaXL flew from Toulouse, France, to Heathrow to assist in returning the grounded A350 back to commercial service.

Airbus BelugaXL’s Rescue Mission

Flight data from Flightradar24 revealed that the BelugaXL was scheduled to depart Toulouse, a major Airbus hub, at 10:00 local time, with its return to France expected later in the day. The need for the oversized cargo aircraft arose after a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 clipped the British Airways A350’s horizontal stabilizer at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 earlier this year, grounding the A350 due to significant damage.

The A350, registered as G-XWBC and only 4.8 years old, has been awaiting repair since the incident. While the Virgin 787 sustained minimal damage and was back in service by June, the A350 has required specialized parts, now delivered by the BelugaXL.

The Role of the BelugaXL

The Airbus BelugaXL, based on the A330-200F, is designed to transport large aircraft components and outsized cargo. With its ability to carry items that regular cargo aircraft cannot, the BelugaXL has become a key asset for Airbus. The aircraft entered service in 2020 and has since replaced the older BelugaST fleet. Its delivery mission to Heathrow demonstrates the critical role it plays in supporting Airbus fleets worldwide.

The BelugaXL’s mission underscores its importance in the aviation industry, facilitating repairs and keeping airlines operational by swiftly delivering crucial aircraft components.