Ukrainian Carrier Now Operating Out of Airbase in Leipzig
Antonov Airlines has successfully completed the transport of a gas power plant generator, turbine and other equipment weighing a combined 200 tonnes from Ljubljana, Slovenia, to Kano, Nigeria.
The Ukrainian airfreight specialist, a division of Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov Company, carried the cargo on three flights using its AN-124-100 “Ruslan” heavy cargo planes.
“The entire Antonov team, from commercial to operational, route planning and load planning, worked closely with our client and agents to ensure the safe delivery of this important cargo, which will support energy needs in Nigeria,” said commercial executive Eugene Kiva.
Antonov announced in May it had relocated operations to Leipzig in Germany following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The carrier had been operating out of the Gostomel airbase close to capital city Kyiv.
Antonov’s AN-225 “Mriya” was among several aircraft destroyed during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops for control of Gostomel. The aircraft, the largest of its kind ever built, had been undergoing maintenance at the time of the Russian attack.
The carrier said it would continue to fly worldwide, prioritizing flights for the Ukrainian government, the Strategic Airlift International Solution and humanitarian missions. It would also fly commercial flights using its fleet of five AN-124s.
“We continue to operate despite the challenges we have faced after the Russian invasion and the damage they caused to our Gostomel home base and some of our aircraft,” said Eugen Gavrylov, acting director general of Antonov Company.
“The services responsible for planning the transportation and maintenance of aircraft have been temporarily relocated to Leipzig. This allows us to ensure the further safe operation of Antonov fleet aircraft.”
