The US Department of Transport granted an exemption and tentatively awarded a Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) to Airbus Beluga Transport (BCO, Toulouse Blagnac) on January 6, 2024, authorising the commercial subsidiary of Airbus to operate cargo charters to the United States.
The start-up cargo specialist applied for the US authorisation in early December and received the permit with no restrictions or objections. Once finalised, the airline will be allowed to operate cargo charters between any point in the European Common Aviation Area and any point in the United States, as well as within the US, and from the ECAA via the US to points beyond.
Airbus Beluga Transport was set up to commercialise Airbus' fleet of A300-600ST Belugas. The aircraft are being phased out from the manufacturer's in-house operations under the Airbus Transport International AOC, where they are being replaced by A330-700STs. The ch-aviation fleets module shows that Airbus Beluga Transport currently has three A300-600STs on its AOC with two more due shortly. However, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows that the airline has yet to launch large-scale in-house operations. One of its Belugas continues to fly between various European Airbus manufacturing sites on behalf of Airbus Transport International, while the other two remain parked (one each at Bordeaux Mérignac and Toulouse Francazal).
