IATA AN4ICAO AN24

Antonov AN-24

Antonov

TravelerPulse profile

Soviet short-haul turboprop workhorse of the 1960s.

First flight

1959

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

44–52 passengers

Range

2,400 km

Engines

Two Ivchenko AI-24 turboprops

Status

In service

The Antonov An-24 is a twin-turboprop regional airliner developed in the Soviet Union during the late 1950s, designed to serve short and medium-haul routes from poorly prepared airstrips. It entered service with Aeroflot in 1963 and became a backbone of Soviet regional aviation, eventually being produced in large numbers across several variants. The aircraft was widely exported to Warsaw Pact nations and developing countries, serving military and civilian roles alike. Its rugged construction and ability to operate from unpaved or grass runways made it especially valued in regions with limited airport infrastructure. Though production ended in the 1970s, a significant number of An-24s remain in service today, primarily with smaller regional carriers and charter operators in Russia, Central Asia, Africa, and parts of Southeast Asia. China produced a licensed variant known as the Xian Y-7.

Notable operators

Major operators have included Aeroflot, Air Koryo, Ukrainian Air Enterprise, and numerous Central Asian and African regional carriers.

Notable facts

›Over 1,000 An-24s were built between 1959 and 1979.
›The aircraft can operate from unpaved, grass, or gravel runways.
›China produced a licensed variant called the Xian Y-7.
›Several military transport variants were developed, including the An-26 and An-30.
›The An-24 was a primary tool for expanding Aeroflot's domestic regional network across the USSR.