Open nose, open skies
Antonov Airlines has transported automotive parts from Indonesia and Vietnam to the USA to support increasing demand from vehicle manufacturers as plants across the states reopen.
The open skies agreement between Ukraine and USA, which promotes an increase in travel, trade and economic growth between the two nations, allowed Antonov Airlines to rapidly provide one of its seven AN-124-100’s.
The aircraft picked up 40 t of parts in Yogyakarta and a further 40 in Hanoi. It took four days to complete the route with technical stops required in Japan and Alaska to accommodate crew rests and aircraft refuelling before reaching Ohio.
Aircraft crew received rapid Covid-19 tests during each rest window prior to receiving clearance to travel to the next technical stop airport.
Read other heavylift news in the dedicated supplement of ITJ 17-18/2021, out today, 16 April 2021! (ah)