5 Soviet Commercial Aircraft Still In Service Outside Russia

Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, the Soviet Union’s thriving aerospace industry spearheaded the development of several different commercial aircraft, from midsize freighters to intercontinental widebodies. However, when the Soviet Union collapsed, most airlines quickly switched to purchasing Western-made aircraft, including the latest planes from both Boeing and Airbus.

The nation’s Antonov, Tupolev, and Ilyushin design powerhouses produced hundreds of commercial aircraft over the years, most of which have since left the skies. However, in a few unique places around the globe, Soviet aircraft remain in regularly scheduled commercial service, often for eye-catching reasons.

These aircraft are still in operation primarily because some airlines cannot access modern, Western-built airliners due to a combination of economic and political barriers. In this article, we will take a deeper look at five unique Soviet-designed airliners that remain in service in 2024 outside of Russia and identify where you might be able to find them today.

1

Ilyushin Il-62

Introduced: 1967

​​​​​​Notable non-Russian operators:

The Ilyushin Il-62 is a Soviet-built long-range jet-powered airliner first introduced in 1967. It was designed to replace the Il-18 turboprop. The plane offered a nearly 200-seat capacity and was briefly the world’s largest jet airliner when it entered service, a major point of pride for the Soviet Union.

Photo: Rada Air

The aircraft has a bizarre non-circular fuselage and innovative doors, pushing the boundaries of Soviet innovation at the time. The Il-62 has been operated in over 30 countries and was the flagship jetliner produced by the nation for decades.

The aircraft remains in extremely limited operation today but is still immediately recognizable for its bizarre rear-mounted quad-engine configuration. According to One Mile At A Time, only four examples are in service today, two with North Korean flag carrier Air Koryo and another pair with Belarussian operator Rada Airlines.

2

Ilyushin Il-96

Introduced: 1992

Notable non-Russian operator:

Another quad-engine long-haul Soviet-designed widebody, the Il-96, was designed to replace first-generation long-haul airliners like the Il-62. The aircraft, which featured a more conventional under-wing four-engine design, is powered by high-bypass Aviadvigatel PS-90 two-shaft turbofan engines.

Photo: Telsek | Shutterstock 

The aircraft’s development began in 1988, but the jet did not enter service until four years later. It remains in commercial service today with just one passenger airline, Cuban flag carrier Cubana de Aviación. According to the International Information Group, amid economic sanctions imposed due to the War in Ukraine, Russian authorities recently announced the relaunch of domestic Il-96 production lines.

Related

How Does The Ilyushin Il-96 Differ From The Older Il-86 Model?

The Il-96 was shorter than the Il-86 and had a much longer range.

3

Antonov An-124

Introduced: 1986

Notable non-Russian operators:

• Antonov Airlines
• Maximus Air Cargo

The Antonov An-124 Ruslan, a heavy airlifter developed in the 1980s for the Soviet Aerospace Forces, today ranks as the world’s largest air freighter following the destruction of the only operational An-225 Mriya. The aircraft, originally designed by the Antonov Design Bureau for military strategic airlifts, has become a crucial element of commercial air cargo transportation over time.

Photo: Georgiphoto | Shutterstock

Amid extensive sanctions surrounding the Russian aircraft industry, the jet remains in service with both Ukrainian operator Antonov Airlines and United Arab Emirates-based cargo airline Maximus Air Cargo. In total, more than 20 An-124 jets remain in operation across multiple different carriers.

Related

Largest Production Freighter Ever Built: The Story Of The Antonov An-124

The aircraft still offers unparalleled airlift capabilities.

The quad-engine freighter first took to the skies in 1986 and has been consistently improved by Russian and Ukrainian engineers over the years to optimize its performance for both civil and military uses. In total, 55 An-124 jets were produced between 1982 and 2004.

4

Tupolev Tu-204

Introduced: 1996

Notable non-Russian operator:

Originally designed to be roughly similar in both range and capacity to the American-built Boeing 757, the Tupolev Tu-204 was designed by the same manufacturer that developed some of the Soviet Union’s most iconic passenger aircraft, including the supersonic Tu-144. The airliner was originally designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau before the collapse of the Soviet Union but did not enter service until the mid-1990s.

Photo: Starz12 | Shutterstock

The plane was originally designed to replace the three-engine Tupolev Tu-154, over which the new Tu-204 was set to offer improvements in fuel efficiency with just two engines. Since the first deliveries in the 1990s, over 90 Tu-204 jets have been produced, and the manufacturer still maintains outstanding orders. Today, the only units in commercial service are in operation with the North Korean flag carrier Air Koryo, alongside a number of domestic Russian carriers.

Related

Tupolev Tu-204 vs Boeing 757 – How Do The Aircraft Compare?

5

Antonov An-74

Introduced: 1983

Notable non-Soviet operators:

• Pouya Air
• Motor Sich Airlines

Originally designed by the Soviet Antonov Design Bureau as a short and mid-range freighter and passenger aircraft, the Antonov An-74, which was in and of itself an upgrade of the earlier An-72, entered service in the 1980s. The aircraft features a unique design configuration with over-wing engines.

The jet was originally designed to serve in rugged conditions, flying to remote airfields in the Soviet Union’s arctic regions with both passengers and heavy cargo. Today, the aircraft remains in extremely limited service worldwide, including with Iranian passenger airline Pouya Air, alongside Ukranian operator Motor Sich Airlines.

Related

Antonov Flies An An-74 To Toulouse With Spare An-124 Parts

Toulouse Airport recently had a rare visitor in the form of an Antonov An-74. The jet was delivering spare parts for a larger An-124.

Have you ever flown in any of these ex-Soviet aircraft? Let us know in the comments!