Airbus Beluga super jumbo makes last ever trip as adoring fans watch onThe ageing Super Transporter defied gusty conditions to land safely at its new forever home in FlintshireAirbus retires one of its giant Beluga ST cargo planes after more than 20 yearsCrowds gathered in Flintshire this morning (Thursday, January 29) to welcome home an iconic super jumbo as it headed into well-earned retirement. Angling into the wind, the Airbus Beluga touched down at Hawarden Airport at 11am having completed its last ever flight. ‌The Beluga Super Transporter No 5 (ST5) will now have a permanent home at Airbus Broughton, with plans to turn it into a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) support facility. Beluga ST5 turned 25 years old on December 12, 2025, having completed around 13,300 journeys between Airbus’ 11 sites. From mid-2027, the Beluga XL fleet will be the sole transporter of components for Airbus.