08.11.2019 
8844 АN-22 Antei performed the first commercial mission after the maintenance
AN-22 Antei of Antonov Airlines successfully performed two flights on the rote of Madrid-Baghdad-Madrid. All flights were performed for DSV Spain – the Logistic Operator of the Spanish MOD, carrying helicopters and spare parts. Owing to height of Antei’s cargo compartment of 4.4 meters the transportation did not request dismantling of the helicopters’ rotors. In such a way, the cargo was prepared in shorter time. Besides, the delivered helicopters will be faster entered into service.
Coordination and Supervision of all flights were done by Cargoplanet Spain, the representative of ADB for these kind of operations in Spain. Staff of Cargoplanet and DSV travelled with the cargo on board the AN-22 to -and from Baghdad to assure a smooth operation.
“Antonov Airlines appreciate cooperation with Cargoplanet Spain and DSV Spain on the performed missions. And we are pleased to announce that the AN-22 is back to the commercial market of outsized air transportations after the scheduled maintenance. Few decades ago appearance of the AN-22 Antei opened the era of the widebody transport aircraft. This aircraft is still the largest turboprop air freighter in the world and its services are still in demand in the global airlift market”, said Vitaliy Shost, Deputy Director of Antonov Airlines.
In particular, in case of the same cargo transportation AN-22 Antei is more effective compared to AN-124 Ruslan.
