Gelix Airlines wants to grow in the cargo business with Il-76

The helicopter company Gelix Airlines has been around for 30 years. Now three Ilyushin Il76 freighters are to be purchased.

Just a few days ago, Gelix Airlines received its own ICAO code. The reason for this is that the airline plans to start operating three Ilyushin Il-76TD cargo aircraft shortly. So far, Gelix has only operated five Mil Mi-8T helicopters from its home airport in Perm. The expansion with the four-engine aircraft is therefore a huge step for Gelix.

However, the Il-76s will not be based in Perm, but in Ulyanovsk, the "aviation capital of Russia". Gelix recently signed a contract with the government of the Ulyanovsk region to operate the three aircraft. All three aircraft have the same previous owner, Alrosa Aviakompania, and were actually supposed to go to Deek Aviation from Sharjah. The first aircraft has already been given Gelix Airlines title, a second is due to join Gelix in August, while the third aircraft is not expected until the end of the year.

Deek Aviation is said to be owned by Russians Oleg Vladimirovich Sergeev and Valery Sevelyev. Deek, in turn, is the parent company of Fly Sky Airlines, which has or had an AOC in Ukraine, Romania and Kyrgyzstan. It seems that Gelix is ​​now also part of this group of companies. According to its own statement, Deek Aviation has eleven Ilyushin 76s.