A subsidiary of the state enterprise Antonov, created to service cargo flights under NATO programs — Antonov Logistics Salis GmbH — has begun construction of a hangar for aircraft maintenance at Leipzig/Halle International Airport (LEJ, Germany).
According to the airport administration, the future facility will cover about 24,000 sq. m. Preparatory work has already started, and construction is expected to be completed by 2027.
The airport emphasized that cooperation with Antonov Logistics Salis represents “another milestone in developing the partnership” and an important step in strengthening Leipzig’s position as Germany’s second-largest cargo hub.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Leipzig has become the main base for Antonov Airlines, whose fleet includes the An-124 “Ruslan,” An-22 “Antey,” An-26, and An-74T. The world’s largest transport aircraft, the An-225 Mriya, was destroyed during the fighting in Hostomel in 2022.
According to Ukroboronprom, in the first months of the war, Antonov’s base in Hostomel was destroyed, facilities in Kyiv were damaged, several aircraft were destroyed, and part of the An-124 fleet was relocated abroad.
In July 2025, the company announced the completion of modernization of one An-124-100 “Ruslan” in Kyiv and its ferry flight to Leipzig.
