Kirov-Neva Airlines Soviet-era Antonov AN-12

After the foundation of the Kirov-Neva joint stock company, both shareholders and management were looking for ways to rake in more profits and expand the global reach of the carrier. Quickly becoming one of the more well known 1990 establishments in the Soviet Union, the airline was in need of a larger cargo aircraft to more economically haul outsize cargo, and operate outside it's existing routes. With Antonov holding a stake in the company, former Poletavia AN-12 aircraft were re-acquired from the Ukrainian branch of the airline and were hastily put into service with Kirov-Neva. By October of 1991, operations were a go with the first revenue flight of the outside Soviet Union between Amsterdam and Algiers. The AN-12 was retired in May of 1994 after the acquisition of more IL-76 aircraft, which could carry out the same duties in a more effective manner.