Antonov Airlines’ AN-22 Antei returned to commercial service by operating two flights between Spain and Iraq.

The AN-22 performed two Madrid-Baghdad-Madrid flights between 27 – 31 October for DSV Spain, the logistics operator of the Spanish Ministry of Defence carrying helicopters and spare parts.

Due to the height of the AN-22’s cargo compartment at 4.4 metres, the helicopters’ rotors did not need dismantling.

Coordination and supervision of the flights was undertaken by Cargoplanet Spain, the representative of Antonov Airlines in Spain.

Staff at Cargoplanet and DSV travelled with the cargo to and from Baghdad to assure smooth operations.

Vitaliy Shost, first deputy director of Antonov Airlines says: “We are pleased to announce that the AN-22 is back in the commercial market of outsized air transportations after scheduled maintenance. A few decades ago, the appearance of the AN-22 Antei opened the era of the widebody transport aircraft. This aircraft is still the largest turboprop air freighter in the world and its services are still in demand in the global airlift market.”