American Airlines Charters Antonov An124 To Transport Spare Engine

The aircraft took off from JFK on Saturday 12th bound for Charlotte.


Photo: Georgiphoto / Shutterstock

SUMMARY

•  American Airlines used a chartered Antonov An124-100 to transport a damaged engine from JFK to Charlotte, relieving the carrier's sticky situation.
•  Antonov Airlines, a Ukrainian carrier, held a permit for foreign air transport and could deliver the necessary engine parts that other US carriers couldn't handle.
•  Ground transport would have taken five days, but Antonov's swift response helped American Airlines avoid lost revenue of approximately USD 125,000 per flight.

American Airlines called on an Antonov An124-100 on the weekend after one of its Boeing 777-200 was stuck in Charlotte with a busted engine. The chartered Antonov was called upon to assist in transferring an RR Trent 800 engine, which was whisked south from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK).

According to data published by the Department of Transport, Antonov Airlines applied for an exemption on August 11th to operate the domestic route to assist the American Carrier. According trackers on Flightradar24.com, the An124-100 was positioned at JFK on Saturday 12th and transported the engine to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) later that evening.

Foreign air permit

Antonov Airlines, a carrier of Ukraine, holds a permit to engage in charter flights for foreign air transport to/from the United States and noted that the operation would be to return the 777-200 back to service as soon as possible for American Airlines by transporting the necessary parts.

The Trent 800 aircraft engine and its associated parts weigh up to 26,000 lbs, and this unit size is impossible to be loaded into a freighter aircraft by other US carriers. The delivery of the parts highlights the ability of Antonov to respond to urgent situations and relieve American Airlines in its sticky situation. Of the Antonov aircraft variants, the An-124-100M can operate with a payload of 330,693 lb. (150,000 kg) and fly 2,000 NM (3,700 km).

As for any airline, when a plane is on the ground, it usually isn't making its owner any money, as reiterated in a letter to the Department of Transport from American Airlines, Global Logistics Specialist Vincent Palmieri reiterated that the use of ground transport would take up to five days for the parts to be delivered, and should the 777 remain out of action, incurs lost revenue to the carrier of approximately USD 125,000 per flight.

Antonov Airlines

With its headquarters in Kyiv, Ukraine, the Ukrainian cargo carrier had operated from its base at the international cargo facility at Hostomel Airport (GML), however during due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the airport site became an intense battleground, and the Battle of Antonov Airport, where the infamous Antonov An-225 Mriya (the world's largest aircraft) was destroyed. With the carrier looking to protect its remaining assets, moving its hub to Germany now means it operates from Leipzig Halle Airport (LEJ).