Ukrainian Aviation Transportation Company has a fleet of 20 planes, including the heavy duty IL-76MD Candid, AN-26 Curl, and AN-12 Cub, and chief executive Vitaliy Popov was optimistic about a future role with the bloc.
"UATC has good chances of becoming one of NATO's main partners in strategic airlift operations," Popov said.
He cautioned that the country's parliament, the 450-seat Supreme Rada, would have to pass a government-submitted bill to allow the move, but he said it would only benefit Ukraine.
"If lawmakers pass the bill they will provide the legal basis for NATO to use Ukraine's strategic transport aircraft," he said. "This will result in significant revenues for the state budget from the involvement of Ukraine's planes in airlift operations and exercises under the aegis of the North Atlantic alliance."
Ukraine's prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych, announced September 14 that the country was shelving its bid to join NATO because of opposition within society. Neighboring Russia had also voiced concerns over the proposed move.
