News / Antonov rolls out its cargo big gun, the AN-225, to fill in for grounded 124s

Antonov Airlines’ huge AN-225 has been brought back into commercial operation as the market struggles with lack of capacity for oversized goods following Volga-Dnepr’s recent decision to ground its AN-124 fleet.

The AN-225, known as Mriya, had already been busy this year with humanitarian cargo, but with more than 50% of the operational global fleet of AN-124s on the ground, it is to fly again with its 250-ton payload.

“There is a surge in demand for AN-124 aircraft and therefore Antonov Airlines ...