New charter operator opens its doors

Strong demand for Russian-built freighters
THERE’S A new force in the
local air charter market.
SOVIET AIR Charter
opened its doors late last
year offering shippers and
forwarding agents access
to its fleet of Ilyushin 76
and Antonov 12 aircraft.
The Antonov 124 is also
available where required.
Headed up by Russianborn
professional pilot and
experienced air charter
specialist Evgueny Zakharov,
the company has already
seen strong demand for its
Russian-built freighters.
“Mining equipment,
big machinery and
outsize cargo can’t be
accommodated in a normal
freighter,” says Zakharov. “Our business is in this
small sector of outsize
cargo to the Middle East
and Africa.”
In the last two months
Soviet Air has moved
telecommunications
equipment to Madagascar,
oil equipment to
Mauretania, humanitarian
aid from Dubai to Maputo
and election and stage
equipment to Nigeria.
It has access to two
Ilyushins and three Antonov
12s on an immediate basis.