The 'Beluga XL' (Airbus A330-743L, Reg F-WBXL) is a new transport aircraft developed by Airbus that will be used to take parts for Airbus' planes from the manufacturing sites to assembly sites. The Beluga XL is similar in design to the standard Beluga, but has 30% more capacity, with the ability to carry two A350 XWB wings inside, instead of one. This distinctive aircraft gets its name from the Beluga whale some say it resembles - the smile painted on the front may make this similarity even more prominent. Airbus are to build 5 BelugaXLs aircraft which will eventually replace the existing Belugas.

The Beluga XL was on it's first flight to the UK, flying from Airbus' factory in Toulouse up to Hawarden Airport (Chester) where Airbus have another factory (Broughton). Instead of flying direct to the Broughton factory, Airbus decided to fly past low over Bristol International Airport, followed by a flypast and wing wave at Bristol Filton Airport (where the aircraft's wings were designed) as well as flying over the beautiful Severn Bridge.