US carrier to act as agent for An-124-100 (145 words)

Published: 6/12/2001

On 31st May, Volga-Dnepr (VD) announced an agreement with Atlas Air, under which the US carrier will operate as the Russian heavy lift carrier's general sales agent for the lease of An-124-100s with US federal agencies, such as the Department of Defence and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The aircraft will supplement the Boeing 747-400s, already operated by Atlas. According to reports, the first charter contract may be for the recovery of the stranded US EP-3E at Hainan Island. VD, however, will continue to represent itself in general cargo sales in the United States. The An-124-100 has been chartered by US federal agencies over the last couple of years and used to transport equipment when the USAF's C-5As have been unavailable. The aircraft previously belonged to the Ukrainian carrier, Antonov Airlines.

Article ID: 2582