Kolkata welcomed the world’s largest cargo plane, the Beluga XL, for the second time, as it touched down at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport early Monday morning.
The giant aircraft, which arrived from Tianjin Binhai International Airport in China at 5:47 am, made the stop for crew rest, Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), and refuelling, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) spokesperson confirmed.
The aircraft, designed for transporting oversized cargo, is set to depart on Tuesday at 3:30 pm, heading towards Bahrain International Airport.
The AAI official further explained that the Beluga XL's return to Kolkata was delayed by nearly 24 hours, having initially been expected on October 13. Its first appearance at the Kolkata airport was on October 8, when it captivated onlookers with its massive size.
The Beluga XL, the largest in Airbus's Beluga series, is a significantly upgraded version of the Beluga ST. According to Airbus data, it measures 207 feet in length, with a height of 62 feet and a wingspan of nearly 198 feet.
“For the first time, Kolkata’s NSCBI Airport welcomed the Airbus Beluga XL, the largest in its series, carrying essential aircraft components. The flight stopped in Kolkata for crew rest, FDTL, and refuelling, as it’s the only airport in Eastern India equipped to handle this aircraft,” airport authorities posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Follow us
