Maximus Air (Abu Dhabi International) could acquire an undisclosed number of An-178 twinjet freighters from Ukrainian manufacturer, the Antonov Design Bureau (Gostomel), with a firm order likely to be placed either this month or next. Should the order materialize, Maximus would be the launch customer for the type.
In late February, Mohamed Al Qassimi, the managing director of the Emirati freight specialist, signed a memorandum of cooperation with Antonov in which both firms pledged to promote sales of the An-178 in the UAE, Middle East, and North African markets where it is being touted as a replacement for outdated An-12s, An-26s and An-32s. The aircraft is based on the An-158 and is scheduled to make its first flight later this year.
Maxmimus Air specializes in the ACMI and outsized cargo market operating a fleet of dedicated freighters including one An-124, two Il-76TDs and a Lockheed Hercules.
