AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) has announced the launch of a B747 freighter service between Moscow and Basel, targeting the pharmaceutical business in the Swiss city. The new Basel-Moscow service will run start from 19 September 2014. Basel has one of the highest concentrations of successful life sciences businesses in the world, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical technology organisations.

Robert van de Weg, senior VP marketing and sales, ABC said: “The healthcare industry relies strongly on the speed of air cargo and its ability to maintain the integrity of products through strict temperature-control services. Operating from Basel will enable us to provide a fast and reliable link into Russia and Asia for customers in the industry as well as the other industries that have grown up to support the healthcare market in Switzerland. This new route and the connections we can offer will facilitate further growth between both regions.”

ABC, part of Volga Dnepr Group, with its yearly tonnage compound growth rate of 39 per cent, is one of the fastest-growing air cargo carriers. It connects the cargo flows from Asia to Europe and the United States via Russia. It operates B747 all-cargo fleet of 12 aircraft and maintains a high level of on-time performance which averages 78 per cent.

As an all-cargo carrier, ABC has an opportunity to adjust each of the B747’s four cargo compartments between 4 to 29 degrees Celsius, therefore ensuring safe and reliable transportation for high-value pharma goods. ABC is a member of IATA, the Cool Chain Association, TAPA, and Cargo 2000.

AirBridgeCargo is represented in Basel by its GSSA partner, RTW Air Services SA.