The Il-96-400T cargo aircraft, registration RA-96103 and operated by Sky Gates Airlines, has commenced commercial cargo transportation following a comprehensive restoration process. On December 10th, Red Wings, a subsidiary of the airline, transported a shipment of goods to Zhukovsky Airport on its inaugural commercial flight. The aircraft obtained its airworthiness certificate in September, with the refurbishment entrusted to the Voronezh aircraft factory.
Red Wings CEO, Evgeny Solodilin, highlighted positive prospects for the development of the cargo market on both domestic and international routes using the Il-96-400T. Ilyushin CEO, Mikhail Podkhvatilin (the lessor of the aircraft), noted that the model’s return is the result of collaborative efforts among various stakeholders.
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The Il-96-400T is the cargo version of the wide-body Il-96 aircraft family. Its maximum commercial payload is 92 tons, and it has a range of 5000 kilometers at maximum load. With a 40-ton payload, the aircraft can cover a distance of 12,000 kilometers.
The return of the Il-96-400T to service provides an opportunity for more efficient and reliable international cargo transport for Russia. According to the United Aircraft Corporation, the parent company of Ilyushin, using a Russian aircraft owned by a Russian company allows for unrestricted flights to foreign airports. In addition to this, considering the high cargo capacity and long range of the Il-96, the aircraft could be an attractive option for cargo airlines.
