Former ZetAvia Il-76 UR-ZAR Returns to the Air After Three Years

On August 27, an Ilyushin Il-76 took off from Aqaba Airport in Jordan and appeared on Flightradar24 as UR-ZAR. The aircraft had not flown since June 2023 and was probably parked at Aqaba throughout that period. After flying for almost three hours, it returned to the airport. The sortie was a post-maintenance test flight.

The aircraft is very likely being prepared for a new operator.

Photo by Emerson Victor Farias

While the aircraft was still on the ground, flight number MZB6101 was initially displayed. The MZB designator is used by Zebu Air, a somewhat mysterious airline from Malawi that has suddenly acquired two Il-76s, registered 7Q-ASU and 7Q-ASJ. Both aircraft operate flights on behalf of the United Arab Emirates to destinations in Ethiopia, most likely transporting military equipment.

UR-ZAR used ICAO hex code 508059 during the flight. There is a very strong possibility that the aircraft will leave Aqaba in the near future.

Some sources state that IL76 7P-HAR is the former UR-ZAR. That is not the case. As explained in this article these two aircraft look different. Also 7P-HAR has been flying for a couple of weeks for the South African military. It is also using a different designator (SXV).

Another Il-76 that had been parked in Ukraine for several years was previously flown to Fujairah in the UAE. That aircraft, registered UR-BXQ, now operates for Maximus. Unlike many other Il-76s, it is not being deployed on routes that are likely connected to arms shipments.

More information: New Malawi-registered Il-76 emerges on route from Libya to the UAE

In addition to Zebu Air, Malawi-registered Vise Air also operates Il-76s. Its aircraft carry the registrations 7Q-VAA, 7Q-VNN and 7Q-VXX. Vise Air also operates flights for the UAE government, primarily to Ethiopia.

The Il-76 sector has undergone an extraordinary number of changes over the past year. Several aircraft that had been parked at Tashkent for years have been delivered to new operators, while New Way Cargo and Fly Sky have lost their licences. At the same time, several new and relatively mysterious airlines have emerged, including Vise Air, Batot Air, Invicta Air Cargo and Zebu Air.

A detailled overview of most of the IL76’s operating in Africa and the Middle East can be found in this article.