AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), part of Volga-Dnepr Group, has taken delivery of two more B747-8 Freighters today. The aircraft are the first to be delivered as part a memorandum of understanding, signed between Boeing and Volga-Dnepr Group at the Paris Air Show in June 2015.

The aircraft will be deployed on ABC’s expanding network under winter schedule 2015/2016, between Asia and the US. With today’s deliveries, ABC’s fleet now consists of eight B747-8 Freighters, five B747-400ER Freighters, and two B747-400 Freighters.

The agreement also added the Antonov-124-100 aircraft to the long-term logistics support for Boeing and its partners.

“For Volga Dnepr Group, adding more new generation B747-8 Freighters will allow to secure further development of the Group’s scheduled business, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, and keep the airline’s high growth rates,” said Denis Ilin, executive president for AirBridgeCargo Airlines.

“This is a celebration of successful partnership with Boeing, which will enable the airline to continue providing its customers with the exceptional air cargo services they are used to.

The B747-8 Freighter provides cargo operators the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large freighter aircraft while providing enhanced environmental performance. It offers 16 per cent more revenue cargo volume than the B747-400, while keeping its iconic nose door.