Airbus Beluga XL makes historic stop at Kolkata airport
Kolkata: The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata witnessed a historic moment on Tuesday as it hosted the Airbus Beluga XL for the first time. The giant aircraft, the largest in the Beluga series, made a scheduled stop for crew rest and refueling during its journey from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, to its unit in Tianjin, China.
The Airbus Beluga XL landed at the Kolkata airport at 10:43 pm IST, arriving from Bahrain International Airport. The aircraft, known for its distinctive shape and immense size, is primarily used to transport oversized cargo, including large aircraft components such as wings and fuselages. The Beluga XL, an upgraded model of the Beluga ST, boasts a length of 63.1 meters and a wingspan of 60.3 meters, with a payload capacity of approximately 51 tons.
Kolkata airport has previously hosted the smaller Beluga ST, but this marks the first time the larger XL model has touched down in the city. The aircraft’s stopover in Kolkata was necessitated by crew rest requirements, flight duty time limitations (FDTL), and the need to refuel. Among airports in eastern India, Kolkata’s facility is uniquely equipped to accommodate such large aircraft, making it a strategic choice for the Beluga XL’s journey.
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SP has ended contract with I-PAC due to fund constraints: Akhilesh Yadav
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said his party has severed its association with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) due to a lack of funds.
He dismissed speculations that the termination of contract was because of recent election results.
Addressing a press conference here, Yadav said the party had engaged I-PAC for a brief period ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections but could not continue the arrangement.
"Yes, we had an association. They worked with us for a few months, but we are not able to continue because we do not have that kind of funding," he said.
The I-PAC is a political consultancy firm known for managing major election campaigns across the country.
Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has also been associated with the organisation in the past and has worked with multiple parties, including the BJP and the Congress.
In a lighter vein, Yadav took a swipe at the ecosystem of political consultancies. "We thought that if we have to work with a 'winning agency', then there are several big companies."
He said that some people suggested conducting surveys, hiring another firm, keeping a social media company, and even engaging agencies for negative campaigning against other parties.
"There are one or two more companies whose names are not yet known. I can get those for you as well," Yadav said.
Yadav rejected the suggestion that the decision to end the deal was influenced by recent election outcomes in states such as West Bengal.
"There is no such thing. Do not ask questions based on baseless reports. That is not true," he said.
"This is not the reason for ending the agreement. We simply do not have enough funds. If you (the media) give us funds, we can hire another company," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.
