Constanta Airlines (UZA, Zaporizhzhia) has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) and exemption authorising it to launch non-scheduled cargo flights between Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
The Ukrainian cargo specialist is proposing to operate flights between Miami Opa-Locka and México City International (via a technical stop at Merida M. Crescencio Rejon), and between Opa-Locka and Toronto Pearson (via a technical stop at Raleigh/Durham). Constanta Airlines plans to use An-26 freighters on these services, although it is also seeking an exemption to deploy An-28s and An-32s.
Constanta Airlines is planning to operate around 92 flights in 2020, subject to demand. It has listed Raleigh/Durham and Fort Lauderdale Executive as proposed alternate airports for its operations, as well as Mexico City Int'l, Nassau International, Freeport International, Santo Domingo Las Américas, and Toronto Pearson as points near the United States proposed to be served.
"Constanta Airlines has current plans to lease the following additional aircraft if the present application is granted as proposed: (1) two An-26-100s; (2) two An-74TK-200s; and (3) two An-28s," the carrier added.
Currently, the airline operates eight An-26s, one An-28, and one An-32.
Constanta Airlines is 49%-owned by Roman Mileshko, who also owns a 40% stake in Expedition Aviation FZC, a Sharjah-based lessor which owns six An-26s operated by the Ukrainian airline. Mileshko also owns a 74.3% stake in Ukraine-based Encompass LLC, a lessor which owns Constanta's An-32s. The other 49% shareholder in the carrier is UAE-based AP Holdings, which owns the remaining two An-26s operated by Constanta. Mikhail Moiseenko holds the remaining 2% stake.
