Antonov Airlines has switched its operational base from Kyiv-Antonov airport in Hostomel, Ukraine, to Leipzig in Germany. The heavy-lift specialist airline made headlines globally earlier this year when Hostomel became the site of heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, with several of its aircraft destroyed.

Antonov Airlines give an update on Hostomel's destruction

Last week at the Worldwide Project Consortium conference in Vienna, Austria, Antonov Airlines confirmed their new home base and detailed the extent of damage to Hostomel Airport and the airline's infrastructure. During the presentation, Antonov said their Hostomel base was destroyed, along with three planes - AN-225 Mriya, AN-74, and an AN-26-100. Two other aircraft, an AN-124 and an AN-22A, are damaged with a decision about their future yet to be made.

"As a result of the Russian attack and occupation of the airfield, significant damage has been caused to its infrastructure, office buildings, hangars, as well as the destruction of the AN-74T, AN-26-100, and AN-225."

Antonov Airlines Hostomel Airport Damage Getty-1239842585
Damage to Antonov aircraft and infrastructure following the Battle of Hostomel Airport earlier this year. Photo: Getty Images

Antonov's surviving planes and infrastructure shift to Germany

Five AN-124-100 aircraft made it out of Ukraine and, in the future, will be based at Leipzig-Halle Airport (LEJ). Those planes are maintaining their flying hours operating missions on behalf of NATO, the Ukrainian Government, and some humanitarian flights. The AN-124-100s have been flying as far afield as North America, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

But there's more to the plan than simply parking the surviving planes at LEJ. Antonov needs to work out how to get what's left intact at Hostomel, including spare parts and engines, to Leipzig. There is also the small matter of transferring their employees, some of them highly skilled, from Kyiv to Leipzig. But Antonov confirmed last week that they would build a full-scale base in Germany.

Leipzig Airport Cargo Loading Aircraft
Leipzig Airport is Europe's fourth-largest cargo airport. Photo: Leipzig Airport

Leipzig Airport is a nice fit for Antonov Airlines

Located west of Dresden and just north of the Czechia-German border, the 24/7 Leipzig Airport is potentially a perfect fit for Antonov. LEJ is currently the fourth-largest air freight hub in Europe, with an annual freight volume of around 1.6 million tons. Cargo volume through the airport was 385,438 tons in the first quarter of this year.

The airport also boasts two category IIIB 3,600 meter runways - big enough to handle the most heavily laden Antonov. Multiple cargo airlines operate around 70 cargo flights a day in and out of Leipzig, taking advantage of the airport's central European location and intermodal capabilities.

While the loss of so many planes and home base might be enough to put many airlines out of business permanently, Antonov Airlines powers on occupying an interesting corner of the air cargo market - the heavy lift segment. Demand in this segment remains strong while supply of available aircraft remains constrained, making it a lucrative sector of the air cargo industry.

Sanctions against Russia have severely curtailed the operations of Ulyanovsk-based Volga-Dnepr Airlines, Antonov's main competitor. It doesn't offset the loss of planes or infrastructure, but it is a positive for Antonov Airlines. Over the next 12 months, Antonov estimates it will fly at least one heavy-lift mission a day, with nearly 1,300 landings anticipated. In the meantime, Antonov did not give a timeframe for completing its move to Leipzig.

Source: Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International