Ikar Airlines has ordered five Antonov An-140 twin turboprops. Deliveries start this year.
The 50-seat regional aircraft will join the Kiev-based airline's fleet of Antonov An-12/24/26s, Let L-410 turboprops and an An-74 twinjet.
Meanwhile, the first production An-140 has joined the flight test programme, which should be completed in April. This aircraft will be delivered to Ikar, after testing, on a five- to seven-year lease purchase. Cold weather certification tests began in mid-January, in Yakutia, Central Siberia, where the aircraft underwent operational tests for over a week.
The aircraft has embarked on a marketing tour of Russian airports and presentations to potential operators in Russia are planned.
Source: Flight International
