Russian cargo airline ATRAN is preparing to resume commercial operations with Boeing 737-400SF freighters after more than four years of suspended flight activity.
One of the aircraft, registered RA-73854, completed a two-hour post-maintenance check flight on 28 August. The Boeing 737-400SF had been removed from storage and undergone a C-check as part of preparations for its return to service. The flight was reported to have been completed without technical issues, with the aircraft now undergoing final preparations for commercial operations.
ATRAN intends to restart cargo services with two Boeing 737-400SF aircraft. The airline had previously operated a fleet of nine Boeing freighters comprising three 737-400SFs and six 737-800BCFs.
The carrier, part of the Volga-Dnepr Group, suspended operations in March 2022 amid sanctions affecting Russian operators of US-built aircraft. ATRAN briefly resumed cargo flights with an Antonov An-12 in September 2023, but ended its operation the following year.
The six 737-800BCFs were subsequently removed from ATRAN’s programme as part of an insurance settlement between Volga-Dnepr Group and Irish lessor AerCap. The aircraft were acquired by Russian lessor NLC Finance using National Wealth Fund financing and later transferred to Aeroflot Group for use as sources of spare parts. Two aircraft went to Rossiya Airlines and four to Pobeda.
ATRAN had initially targeted a return to cargo operations in 2025, before moving the target to 2026. The airline expects the resumed operation to become profitable from 2027.
The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) suspended ATRAN’s air operator certificate in October 2025 at the airline’s request. The recent check flight forms part of the work required to restore the certificate and return the carrier to commercial service.
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