First Il-96 flies to Australia

AN Air Charter Service (ACS) Il-96 freighter has become the first of its type to fly to Australia.

Polet airlines flew the aircraft from Liege (Belgium) into Adelaide (South Australia) on 1 July. It was carrying a four-and-a-half ton, 368 cm-diameter slewing ring – too large for a 747 – for a local blast furnace.

Stephen Fernandez, cargo charter manager ACS Hong Kong, said: “The Il-96 was the perfect aircraft for this charter, and we’re delighted to be the first to operate into Australia with it. My client and I signed the contract only a few days ago, and between Polet and ACS we obtained all the relevant permissions in a very short space of time to get the aircraft moving as quickly as possible.

Polet sales manager, Oleg Kuzmin, said: “We are very happy to have been able to operate the Il-96 into Australia for the first time, and we are grateful to ACS for the opportunity. We hope that this will be the first of many into the country.”