29 June, 2018:  The first Airbus BelugaXL has rolled out of the paintshop unveiling a special livery making it look like a Beluga Whale. The livery was one of six choices submitted to Airbus employees through a poll where 20,000 people participated.
The BelugaXL will now commence gound tests before maiden flight planned in summer 2018.
The decision to build the BelugaXL was taken to deal with the transport and ramp-up capacity requirements for Airbus beyond 2019. The first of five BelugaXLs will fly in summer 2018 and enter into service in next year.