Airlines

The Antonov An-178 is back in production.

Antonov, a Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer, has announced that four Antonov An-178 will be built in 2021, ending a years-long production pause.

The business will primarily operate on three An-178s ordered by the Ukrainian government in 2020, according to the Ukrainian news website Liga. It will begin construction on one aircraft’s airframe, assemble another, and begin producing parts for a third.

In addition, the fourth plane, which was requested by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Peru, will be assembled as scheduled.

The company did not say if any of the four planes would be completed this year.

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Antonov will also modernize two An-124 Ruslans and manufacture spare parts for Indian An-32s. The company’s overall revenue is expected to be 9.5 billion hryvnias ($340 million).

It is nearly 30% higher than in 2020, indicating a substantial increase in production.

Antonov had not produced a new airplane in four years until starting production on Peru’s An-178 in 2019. The Ukrainian government signed a contract in December 2020 to produce four An-178 medium transport aircraft between 2021 and 2024 for the country’s armed forces.

The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine agreed to provide the company with a loan of 3 billion hryvnias (over $1 million) on January 4, 2021, for the manufacture of the aircraft.

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Related Topics:an-124 an-178 antonov Ukraine

Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.