Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines launches new website

Ukrainian heavylift carrier-in-exile Antonov Airlines has launched a new website.

The airline, which is now based in Leipzig, Germany, said this is its first independent site since it discontinued its cooperation with UK-based GSSA Dreamlifts.

Dreamlifts had represented Antonov since 2016, following the dissolution of the Ruslan International joint venture between Antonov and Russia’s Volga-Dnepr. Ending of the Dreamlifts agreement was announced in February 2020, just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to the new website, Antonov Airlines now has five AN-124-100 Ruslan aircraft with payloads of up to 150 tonnes based in Leipzig. While a major focus of the company’s operations is supplying the needs of its home country, it also continues to serve the aerospace, defence, energy, humanitarian, industrial, automotive and oil and gas sectors.

Antonov Airlines’ AN-124s continue to be the workhorses of heavylift aviation, particularly since Volga-Dnepr fleet of AN-124s is no longer available on the general market due to worldwide sanctions against Russia.

Antonov Airlines was also the operator of the even bigger and unique AN-225 Mriya (‘Dream’). However, this was grounded at the carrier’s Hostomel base near Kiev when it was stormed by Russian forces in an unsuccessful attempt to take the strategic site and the aircraft was totally destroyed.

However, Antonov Airlines has vowed to build a new Mriya, using a spare airframe that is still extant.

The new website can be found at: https://antonov-airlines.aero/

Dreamlifts and Antonov Airlines part ways after failing to reach agreement