World’s largest cargo plane, Beluga XL, lands again at Kolkata Airport
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

World’s largest cargo plane, Beluga XL, lands again at Kolkata Airport

The Beluga XL, the world’s largest cargo aircraft, made another landing at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport early Monday morning. The aircraft, arriving from Tianjin Binhai International Airport in China, touched down at 5:47 am, according to an official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The stopover was scheduled for crew rest, refuelling, and compliance with Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). The aircraft is set to depart for Bahrain International Airport at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, the official confirmed.

Originally expected to return on October 13, the flight faced a 24-hour delay. This marks the Beluga XL’s second appearance at the Kolkata airport, following its debut landing on October 8.

The Beluga XL, the largest model in the Airbus Beluga series, measures 207 feet in length, 62 feet in height, and boasts a wingspan of nearly 198 feet. It is an upgraded version of the Beluga ST, designed to carry oversized cargo such as aircraft components.

Kolkata’s airport, the only one in Eastern India equipped to handle the massive aircraft, announced on X (formerly Twitter) during the Beluga's earlier visit: “For the first time, NSCBI Airport welcomed the Airbus Beluga XL, carrying essential aircraft components.”

The Beluga XL, the world’s largest cargo aircraft, made another landing at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport early Monday morning. The aircraft, arriving from Tianjin Binhai International Airport in China, touched down at 5:47 am, according to an official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The stopover was scheduled for crew rest, refuelling, and compliance with Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). The aircraft is set to depart for Bahrain International Airport at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, the official confirmed. Originally expected to return on October 13, the flight faced a 24-hour delay. This marks the Beluga XL’s second appearance at the Kolkata airport, following its debut landing on October 8. The Beluga XL, the largest model in the Airbus Beluga series, measures 207 feet in length, 62 feet in height, and boasts a wingspan of nearly 198 feet. It is an upgraded version of the Beluga ST, designed to carry oversized cargo such as aircraft components. Kolkata’s airport, the only one in Eastern India equipped to handle the massive aircraft, announced on X (formerly Twitter) during the Beluga's earlier visit: “For the first time, NSCBI Airport welcomed the Airbus Beluga XL, carrying essential aircraft components.”

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

CPCL crosses $10 million revenue milestone

Chaitanya Projects Consultancy (CPCL), a leading infrastructure and engineering consultancy, has surpassed $10 million in annual revenue for FY 2024–25, marking a five-year compound annual growth rate of 28.2 per cent—well above the industry average. Established in 2004, CPCL has delivered over 300 projects across highways, bridges, urban infrastructure, water, transport, and environmental sectors. Its achievements include over 600 km of six-lane highways, 2,000 km of national highways, and 100 major bridges. “Our goal has always been to improve India’s infrastructure,” sai..

Next Story
Resources

KPIL secures new orders worth Rs 37.89 billion

Kalpataru Projects International Ltd (KPIL), a major EPC player in power transmission and civil infrastructure, has secured new orders worth approximately Rs 37.89 billion along with its international subsidiaries. The orders include a significant contract in the Buildings and Factories (B&F) segment in India, marking KPIL’s largest B&F order to date. The project involves the development of over 12 million sq ft of residential space with supporting infrastructure, awarded on a design-build basis. Additionally, the company has won new transmission and distribution (T&D) order..

Next Story
Real Estate

Apartment loading rises to 40 per cent in top cities

Driven by rising demand for premium amenities, the average apartment loading across India’s top seven cities has reached 40 per cent in Q1 2025, up from 31 per cent in 2019, according to ANAROCK Research. The loading factor, or the area paid for beyond the usable carpet area, covers common spaces such as lobbies, staircases, and clubhouses. Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) continues to lead with the highest loading at 43 per cent. Bengaluru saw the sharpest jump, from 30 per cent in 2019 to 41 per cent in Q1 2025. Chennai recorded the lowest average loading at 36 per cent. “Sixty..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?