Antonov looks globally after severing Volga-Dnepr ties
Ukraine's Antonov Design Bureau ( Gostomel ) is eyeing global expansion after having severed ties with Russia's Volga-Dnepr Group last year. Air Cargo News reports that the heavy cargo specialist has set up offices in London, the US and Hong Kong, and has appointed a sales manager to Japan and Australia for its cargo charter operator Antonov Airlines (ADB, Gostomel ). The agreement with Volga-Dnepr was a joint marketing venture, and with its dissolution the two are now operating independently in the market. Antonov has now begun working with a number of different companies across the globe to extend the service life of its freighters. Among these are Dunlop, whose tyres it is using on its An-124 and An-225 aircraft to attain their maximum payload of 150 tonnes with an improved lifespan. Other partners include Honeywell Aerospace , Pratt & Whitney , Dowty Propellers and Zodiac Aerospace. According to the Antonov press office, it has also recently signed a