FLORIDA's war zone specialist national Air Cargo (NAC) is in discussions with Airbus over the chartering of one of its Beluga Super Transporter' planes.
Airbus uses its Belugas to transport parts between manufacturing facilities but in light of the conflict in Ukraine, which has sidelined Russian cargo carrier Volga-Dnepr's outsize cargo fleet, there has been a rise in demand for such aircraft.
This follows the addition of two nose-loading Boeing 747-400Fs in the NAC fleet, reports Montreal's Simply Flying.
The airline has its eye on an agreement with Airbus for capacity on one of its Airbus A300-600ST aircraft, popularly known as the Beluga.
Now offering outsize cargo services, National Air Cargo could charter the help of the giant transporter to add to its recently-acquired nose-loading capability via its two new Boeing 747-400 freighters.
'From our freight forwarding element, we're very accustomed to using the An-124,' said National Air Cargo chief growth officer Alan White.
'We're talking to them [Airbus Beluga Transport] to see if there's mutual benefit in partnering because their volume capability is so much greater,' he said.
Airbus currently has two Beluga STs - number 2 (F-GSTB) and 3 (F-GSTC) - available for charter, with a third Beluga to become available in 2023 and the final two in 2024.
Airbus manufactured five of the giant 'ST' transporters but phased them out in favour of the larger Airbus BelugaXL, of which six have been built. Interestingly, Airbus Beluga Transport - Airbus' upcoming standalone cargo airline - will also have limited access to one BelugaXL starting this year.
National Air Cargo recently welcomed two Boeing 747-400 freighters into its fleet, opening up the possibility of carrying cargo that won't fit through regular cargo doors. Both aircraft are less than 15 years old and should be ready to enter service in February.
The pair will likely see demand from the oil-and-gas industry, which frequently requires special cargo, such as pipes, to be transported by air.
SeaNews Turkey
Airbus uses its Belugas to transport parts between manufacturing facilities but in light of the conflict in Ukraine, which has sidelined Russian cargo carrier Volga-Dnepr's outsize cargo fleet, there has been a rise in demand for such aircraft.
This follows the addition of two nose-loading Boeing 747-400Fs in the NAC fleet, reports Montreal's Simply Flying.
The airline has its eye on an agreement with Airbus for capacity on one of its Airbus A300-600ST aircraft, popularly known as the Beluga.
Now offering outsize cargo services, National Air Cargo could charter the help of the giant transporter to add to its recently-acquired nose-loading capability via its two new Boeing 747-400 freighters.
'From our freight forwarding element, we're very accustomed to using the An-124,' said National Air Cargo chief growth officer Alan White.
'We're talking to them [Airbus Beluga Transport] to see if there's mutual benefit in partnering because their volume capability is so much greater,' he said.
Airbus currently has two Beluga STs - number 2 (F-GSTB) and 3 (F-GSTC) - available for charter, with a third Beluga to become available in 2023 and the final two in 2024.
Airbus manufactured five of the giant 'ST' transporters but phased them out in favour of the larger Airbus BelugaXL, of which six have been built. Interestingly, Airbus Beluga Transport - Airbus' upcoming standalone cargo airline - will also have limited access to one BelugaXL starting this year.
National Air Cargo recently welcomed two Boeing 747-400 freighters into its fleet, opening up the possibility of carrying cargo that won't fit through regular cargo doors. Both aircraft are less than 15 years old and should be ready to enter service in February.
The pair will likely see demand from the oil-and-gas industry, which frequently requires special cargo, such as pipes, to be transported by air.
SeaNews Turkey