Antonov Airlines posted an 81% year-on-year increase in revenue increase for 2017.

According to the company, the figures for January to May 2018 were also up by 42% compared to the same period last year, with aerospace being one of the key sectors.

The Ukrainian airline attributed the growth to its strategic partnership with Dreamlifts Limited and the establishment of its UK headquarters at London Stansted Airport.

The heavy and super-heavy lift operator is working with Western suppliers to modernize its fleet.

As part of this programme, Antonov has increased the payload of two of its An-124 aircraft from 120 to 150 tonnes and will roll this out to the remaining five airframes in due course.

Under the Open Skies agreement between Ukraine and the US, Antonov Airlines is the only An-124 operator to be granted a blanket exemption for unlimited flights to and from the country, and is allowed to carry any type of cargo to or from the US with only a few hours’ notice, without the need to obtain statements of authorization from the US Department of Transport.

Antonov Airlines operates a fleet of seven An-124-100 aircraft with a payload of up to 150 tonnes, a 60-tonne-payload An-22, the 250-tonne-payload An-225, as well as smaller An-74 and An-26 aircraft.