Because of the full-scale war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, for the “Volga-Dnepr” and “Volga-Dnepr Group” Russian aviation companies exploiting AN-124-100 aircraft, it is difficult to obtain airworthiness certificates (since it is impossible to perform works on the aircraft service life prolongation under the Antonov Design Bureau program).
In order to regain a significant (and in fact the largest one) share of air cargo transportation on the world market, they plan to find an opportunity to circumvent sanctions and regain the lost share of international air transportation.
Currently, we have the information from reliable sources that the “Maximus Air” civil airline that is registered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and which also specializes in international air cargo transportation, exploits the following aircraft:
- AN-124-100 – 1 unit
- IL-76 TD – 2 units
It is actually the property of the Russian citizens, and is practically a foreign operator, and intends to procure a significant number of AN-124-100 aircraft (from 5 to 7 units) from the “Volga-Dnepr” and “Volga-Dnepr Group” Russian Airlines, in order to change the aircraft owner from the Russian Federation to the owner from the UAE, and continue to receive profits, some of which will be used in the war against Ukraine.
At the same time, Antonov Design Bureau (Ukraine) did not prolong the service life of aircraft in the Russian Federation and did not issue airworthiness certificates for aircraft developed by Antonov Design Bureau, due to the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
As a result, the existing airworthiness certificates for Antonov aircraft, both owned privately in the Russian Federation and by the state owners from the Russian Federation, do not have the right to be used in international air transportation, which should be taken into account by the state aviation administrations of ICAO member states.
Therefore, Antonov aircraft, which are the property of the Russian Federation, do not have the right to carry out international air transportation.
