OREANDA-NEWS. May 29, 2012. ANTONOV Company was visited by State Minister of transport of Republic of Sudan Feisal H.Abdalla accompanied by Elobida F. Elmoly Ali, Director General of “Sudan Airways”, Mohammed H. Zarog, Ambassador of Republic of Sudan in Russia and Ukraine, and other officials.

During his visit Mr. Abdalla familiarized with the AN-148 and AN-158 regional jets in details. In the process of negotiations, the development of the programme was extensively presented. The high guest visited a final assembly shop of “ANTONOV Serial Plant” where three AN-148s and one AN-158 are in the final stage of construction now.

Then State Minister of transport of Republic of Sudan visited Kharkov State Aviation Manufacturing Company where he familiarized with production of multipurpose aircraft of the AN-74 family.

On his way from Kiev to Kharkov and back the high guest could appreciate personally parameters of the AN-148 and comfort of its passenger cabin in flight. Both flights he performed onboard of the AN-148 of “Air Ukrainian International” airlines. At present, three such aircraft work in the fleet of the carrier. Since February 2012 when these aircraft began to perform “AUI” regular flights, they have transported about 22.000 passengers, performed more than 500 flights.

On Mr. Abdalla’s opinion, the AN-148, the AN-158 and the AN-74 aircraft can be operated effectively by the airlines of Republic of Sudan and this subject can be further discussed with participation of technical specialists and managers of the airlines. Thus, the visit can become a staring point of a cooperation between Ukraine and Republic of Sudan in a sphere of deliveries of new Antonov aircraft.