PRESS RELEASE
Proposed formation of a Joint Venture between Air Foyle Limited and HeavyLift Cargo Airlines Limited
Air Foyle and HeavyLift have agreed in principle to form a Joint Venture to promote, market and sell on a world-wide basis commercial charters of all aircraft operated by Antonov Airlines. Antonov Airlines is based in Kiev, Ukraine and operates a fleet of 8 AN-124-100s, together with a number of AN-22 and AN-12 aircraft. From June of this year one AN-225 with a payload of 200 / 250 tonne is planned to be available.
The Joint Venture will be called Antonov Airlines (UK). The Board of the Joint Venture will initially comprise Mr. Christopher Foyle and Mr. Bruce Bird from Air Foyle and Mr. Michael Hayles and Mr. Graham Pearce of Heavy Lift. Mr. Christopher Foyle will be Chairman and Managing Director and Mr Graham Pearce will be Commercial Director.
The Joint Venture will merge all the outsize cargo activities of both Air Foyle and HeavyLift under the new identity. Its principal purpose will be to develop the commercial airline business of Antonov Airlines which is the trading name of Antonov Design Bureau.
Until the Joint Venture is operational, Air Foyle and HeavyLift will be working together to offer, on behalf of Antonov Airlines, the availability of all its aircraft.
Mr. Konstantin Lushakov, Director of Antonov Airlines, said, “Antonov Airlines are delighted to be expanding their world-wide operations in partnership with two British companies who not only have the combined experience of over thirty years in the specialised outsize air cargo market, but who are both so well regarded in the marketplace. Antonov Airlines has enjoyed a very successful relationship with Air Foyle over the years and looks forward to having a similar relationship with the Joint Venture”.
Mr. Graham Pearce, Commercial Director of HeavyLIft, said that he “was delighted that HeavyLift was forming the Joint Venture with Air Foyle. HeavyLift has no doubt that the specialised outsize air cargo market was expanding rapidly and expects it to continue to expand. By creating the Joint Venture, customers world-wide should benefit enormously from the depth of experience brought to them by the three parties involved”.
Mr. Christopher Foyle, the Chairman of Air Foyle, said, “Since 1989 Air Foyle and Antonov Airlines have enjoyed and continue to enjoy a very successful and close relationship with each other. Both Air Foyle and Antonov Airlines believe that the opportunities to expand the outsize air cargo market within the rapidly growing general air cargo market are enormous. We have always had the highest professional regard for HeavyLift, our principal competitor in the AN-124 marketplace, and we are delighted that we are joining forces in this way. We believe that Antonov Airlines, through its relationship with the Joint Venture, will be in a very strong position to continue its growth and reputation as one of the world’s leading operators in the air cargo market”.
For further enquiries contact:
Bruce Bird Air Foyle Ltd 01582 419792
Graham Pearce HeavyLift Cargo Airlines Limited 01279 680611
23 February 2001