Beluga Transport — the new cargo subsidiary of Airbus — is looking to secure its air operator's certificate (AOC) in October, according to various reports.

Managing director Benoit Lemonnier said during a recent cargo conference in Frankfurt that the carrier will launch operations using five A300-600ST Belugas.

The AOC will allow it to commence commercial cargo operations. Without its own operating license, teams from Airbus Transport International (ATI) continue to operate all Beluga missions on behalf of Airbus Beluga Transport.

Lemonnier highlighted a significant decrease in the availability of An-124 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Volga-Dnepr Airlines, which operates this aircraft type. Consequently, there is a high demand for these types of aircraft.

He also outlined the company's plan to expand its commercial business which included achieving its own AOC and eventually adding more loading platforms.

Currently, the company has loading platforms established in six locations: three in undisclosed locations in Asia and North America, and three in Marseille and Toulouse, Blagnac.

The company plans to have 20 more platforms around the world by 2026 and eventually build three mobile platforms that will be carried onboard the aircraft.

The cargo loaders can handle up to 23 tons of cargo with a maximum length of 12 meters.

In early 2022, Airbus noted that for the initial Beluga missions, its in-house 'airline' ATI is using its own aircrew. However, in the near future, once Airbus has commissioned all six new BelugaXLs, the fully released BelugaST fleet will be handed over to a newly created dedicated subsidiary airline with its own AOC and staff.