Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines, which operates a fleet of seven An-124 freighters (one of which is in the static park at this week's airshow, Outside Exhibit 32 "Cargo Village"), enjoyed an 81 percent year-over-year increase in revenue in 2017. January-to-May figures for this year were up by 42 percent, according to the company. Antonov attributes much of the gain to its strategic partnership with Dreamlifts Ltd., which is managed by “an international group of well known experts in the field,” and Antonov’s newly established headquarters at London Stansted Airport.
The air transport division of Antonov Co., the airline is working with Western suppliers on a fleet-modernization program to ensure operational compatibility with upcoming regulatory requirements. The upgrades also include increasing the payload of the An-124s to 150 metric tons from 120 metric tons. Antonov Airlines also flies the 60-metric-ton-payload An-22 turboprop and the six-engine, 250-metric-ton-payload An-225 “Mriya,” the largest aircraft in the world.
Antonov Airlines is the only An-124 operator granted a blanket exemption under the Open Skies agreement for unlimited flights to and from the U.S., it said. The agreement allows the airline to carry any type of cargo to or from the U.S. with a few hours’ notice, with no need to gain U.S. Department of Transportation authorization for each mission.
With more than 28 years of experience, Antonov Airlines specializes in transporting outsize and project cargo worldwide.