Antonov An-148/An-158
Regional jet airliner · Ukraine · Modern (1992–2009)
The Antonov An-148 and the related An-158 are Ukrainian / Russian short-haul jet airliners — the only post-Soviet short-haul jets to enter commercial service. Antonov designed the An-148 in the early 2000s; first flight was 17 December 2004. About 47 An-148 and An-158 airframes have been built between 2009 and 2018 at Antonov Kharkov (Ukraine) and Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (Russia). The 2014 Russia-Ukraine break disrupted production; both Ukrainian and Russian lines have effectively ceased production through 2026.
The An-148 used two Progress D-436-148 turbofan engines (14,330 lbf each). Maximum speed 540 mph; range 1,860 miles standard / 2,700 miles long-range; service ceiling 41,000 ft. Capacity: 75-89 passengers depending on configuration. The An-158 is a stretched-fuselage variant carrying 99 passengers. The aircraft uses a high-wing layout (atypical for a modern short-haul jet — most Embraer / Bombardier alternatives use low-wing) which keeps engines clear of forward-thrown runway debris and simplifies short-haul-airfield operations.
An-148 service was concentrated in Russian Aerospace Forces (~12 airframes for utility / VIP transport), Russian short-haul airlines (Saratov Airlines, Polet, Rossiya Airlines), and Cuba (Cubana de Aviación). The Russian Aerospace Forces 2018 An-148 crash near Moscow killed 71 people and led to grounding investigations; the type's commercial reputation suffered. Most operators retired their An-148 fleets between 2018 and 2022; the Russian / Ukrainian programme effectively ended by 2018. About 25 An-148 / An-158 airframes remain in active service in 2026, mostly with Russian Aerospace Forces and the Cuban national airline.
For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version
The Antonov An-148 is a small jet airliner made in Ukraine and Russia. It was designed in the early 2000s and first flew on December 17, 2004. It is one of the only short-haul jets built after the Soviet Union ended that ever carried real passengers.
The An-148 can carry between 75 and 89 passengers. It uses two powerful jet engines, one under each wing. Its top speed is about 540 miles per hour. It can fly up to about 1,860 miles on a single trip — even longer with extra fuel.
One cool thing about this plane is its high wings. Most small jets have wings low on the body. The An-148 has wings up high instead. This keeps the engines away from rocks and dirt thrown up from the runway. That makes it great for small or rough airports.
A longer version called the An-158 was also made. It can carry up to 99 passengers. Together, about 47 of these planes were built between 2009 and 2018. That is smaller than most other jet families — fewer planes than you have classmates in two school classes!
Sadly, production stopped. A big disagreement between Russia and Ukraine in 2014 hurt the building program. A deadly crash in 2018 made things worse. No new planes have been built since then.
Fun Facts
- The An-148 first flew on December 17, 2004 — just before the winter holidays!
- Each of its two engines pushes with over 14,000 pounds of force — that is heavier than two full-grown elephants!
- The plane can fly as high as 41,000 feet — way above most storm clouds.
- The longer An-158 version can carry 99 passengers, about the size of four school classrooms packed together.
- The An-148 is faster than most cars on a highway — it flies at about 540 miles per hour!
- Only about 47 of these jets were ever built, making them quite rare in the sky.
- About 12 of these planes were used by the Russian air force to carry important passengers in comfort.
- Its high-wing design is unusual — most modern short-haul jets carry their wings low on the body.
Kids’ Questions
What makes the An-148 different from other small jets?
The An-148 has wings up high on the body instead of low down. This keeps its engines away from rocks and dirt on the runway. Most other small jets, like those made by Embraer or Bombardier, have low wings. The high-wing design helps the An-148 land at smaller or rougher airports.
Why did they stop making the An-148?
Two big problems stopped production. First, Russia and Ukraine had a serious disagreement in 2014. This made it very hard for the two countries to work together on building the plane. Then a crash in 2018 made airlines less interested in buying new ones.
How many passengers can these jets carry?
The An-148 can carry between 75 and 89 passengers depending on how the seats are set up. The stretched An-158 version can carry up to 99 passengers. That is like filling almost two school buses full of people!
Variants
- An-148-100A / B / C / E
- Standard An-148 production variants. 75-89 passenger capacity. About 35 built across all sub-variants 2009-2018.
- An-158
- Stretched fuselage variant carrying 99 passengers. About 12 built 2010-2018. Used by Cubana de Aviación + Russian operators.
- An-148-100E (long-range)
- Extended-range variant with additional fuel tanks. About 5 built. Used by Russian VIP transport units.
Notable Operators
- Russian Aerospace Forces
- About 12 An-148 / An-158 in service 2026 for utility / VIP transport. Procurement ended after 2018 fatal crash.
- Cubana de Aviación (Cuba)
- About 8 An-158 in active service 2026. Largest non-Russian An-158 operator.
- Smaller Russian short-haul operators
- Saratov Airlines, Polet, Rossiya Airlines, others. Most retired An-148 fleets 2018-2022 after the type's commercial reputation suffered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the An-148 / An-158 production end?
Multiple causes: 2014 Russia-Ukraine break disrupted joint Ukrainian-Russian production; the 11 February 2018 Saratov Airlines An-148 crash near Moscow that killed 71 people; commercial reputation problems among Russian short-haul airlines; competition from Sukhoi Superjet 100 and Western alternatives. Both Ukrainian (Kharkov) and Russian (Voronezh) production lines ended 2018.
How is the An-158 different from the An-148?
The An-158 is the stretched-fuselage variant of the An-148. Same wings, engines, cockpit, and most systems; longer fuselage carrying 99 passengers vs. An-148's 89. Cubana de Aviación was the largest An-158 operator; the type was specifically marketed for higher-density operations than the An-148.
How many An-148 / An-158 airframes were built?
About 47 total — 35 An-148 + 12 An-158. Production was at Antonov Kharkov (Ukraine) and Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (Russia) 2009-2018. About 25 remain in active service in 2026.
What aircraft replaced the An-148?
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 (Russian short-haul jet, 200+ built) effectively replaced the An-148 in Russian short-haul service. Western alternatives (Embraer E-Jets, Bombardier CRJ) replaced the An-148 in most international export markets that the Antonov programme had hoped to capture.
Sources
See Also
- Antonov An-178 — Modern Antonov medium field transport (related airframe)
- Antonov An-140 — Sister Antonov post-Soviet short-haul aircraft (turboprop)
- Sukhoi Superjet 100 — Russian short-haul-jet competitor that replaced An-148
- Embraer E-195 — Western short-haul-jet competitor
- Antonov An-70 — Sister Antonov post-Soviet aircraft