News Breakbulk & Project Cargo
A heavy loss
Closure of heavy-lift airline heightens concerns over aging global fleet
By Keith Wallis
The EU ’ s $ 21 million ESOCA program aims to develop aircraft with capabilities like the AN-124 ( pictured ). Antonov Airlines
The closure of Airbus ’ s Beluga Transport operation just 18 months after its launch has intensified pressure on the availability of aircraft capable of carrying outsized and project loads .
In a Jan . 21 letter to customers shared with the Journal of Commerce , Airbus Beluga Transport CEO Benoît Lemonnier said the company ’ s activities had been terminated “ due to economic difficulties .” The last flight was on Jan . 17 . The company spent 2024 developing its operations with four 40-metric-ton capacity Airbus BelugaST aircraft , and , for 2025 , it planned to ramp up marketing of its services to forwarders and shippers to carry more cargo for external customers , Lemonnier previously told the Journal of Commerce .
The blow compounds the problems of an aging fleet , which is pushing aviation experts to investigate alternative options to ensure that lifts for outsized and project cargo loads remain in place .
“ Those that are kept flying will come with a much higher maintenance cost .”
The options include a European Commission-backed proposal to develop a heavy-lift transport aircraft for commercial and military use as well as upgrades of existing aircraft such as the Antonov AN-124 Ruslan by Ukraine ’ s Antonov Airlines .
Air cargo executives speaking to the Journal of Commerce said that the AN-124s , which can carry up to 150 metric tons , are nearly 40 years old , while some of the 129-metric-ton capacity Boeing 747-400 freighters are more than 30 years old .
Those two aircraft are the workhorses of the outsized and heavy-lift project cargo sector because of their flexibility and unique capability to load cargo through the nose .
Coming ‘ scarcity ’
Andriy Blagovisniy , global director for air chartering at LP Aero , part of US-headquartered Logistics Plus , listed typical cargoes as oil , gas and other energy related equipment such as power transformers and generators , as well as project freight such as aerospace equipment .
Highlighting the potential shortage of heavy-lift capacity , Cargolux president and CEO Richard Forson told the Journal of Commerce that many 747-400 freighters will be retired over the next 15 years . He said Cargolux alone plans to retire 10 of its 30 Boeing 747-400 freighters beginning in 2026 . From 2040 onward , Forson said there will be a “ scarcity of 747 capacity in the market .”
“ Those that are kept flying will come with a much higher maintenance cost ,” he said . “ Charter rates will reflect that increased cost .”
Airline data shows about 330 747 freighters currently flying ; only 80 from 10 airlines are available for non-scheduled charters .
Forson said some freight forwarders and industrial customers are starting to realize the impact of the Boeing 747 retirements on the heavy-lift and project cargo market . “ There has always been demand for the 747s ’ nosedoor capability for project cargo , especially from the oil and gas and aerospace industries ,” he said .
“ The oil and gas industry needs to transport items that typically don ’ t fit through the side door , or otherwise it ’ s a tight fit ,” Forson added . “ The 747 plays a significant role for this type of industry .”
The Boeing 777 , which has replaced the 747 , has just a side door and can only carry about 90 metric tons , meaning it doesn ’ t have the same flexibility .
Europe ’ s answer
LP Aero ’ s Blagovisniy said that , recognizing the potential shortage of capacity , the European Commission has launched its European System for Outsized Cargo Airlift ( ESOCA ) program to develop transport aircraft with capabilities like the AN-124 .
A consortium of 14 European aerospace and advisory companies led by aircraft manufacturer Airbus started the
18 Journal of Commerce | March 2025 www . joc . com