Airbus and Boeing Turn to Antonov Planes Amid Supply Chain Pressures

Supply chain pressures have forced Airbus and Boeing to turn to Antonov planes for help. The two leading planemakers are using the AN-124, one of the world's largest cargo aircraft providers, to transport oversized parts across the Atlantic.

The unusual flying arrangement sees Antonov jets manage tight margins for Airbus and Boeing by providing additional support and bypassing supply chain pressures. According to Reuters, in exclusive reporting aired in mid-July, Airbus and Boeing have chartered Antonov AN-124 flights to move some of their larger aerostructures that would normally be transported by sea or road.

Airbus used the AN-124 to ferry sections of the A350 from Kinston, North Carolina, to the long-haul final assembly line in Toulouse, France. The buffer that would have been present was eroded because Airbus was forced to add sections to Antonov planes to avoid further delays on the A350 programme.

Boeing also chartered an AN-124 in late June to bring two upper fuselage sections from the Daher Aerospace plant in Florida to the widebody facility in Everett, Washington. This move allowed them to keep assembly of their 767 freighter on track despite ongoing supply disruptions.