Volga-Dnepr takes delivery of 10th B747-8 Freighter

by Payload Asia

Volga-Dnepr Group has taken delivery of its 10th new B747-8 Freighter as it continues to strengthen its fleet development and logistics services partnership with Boeing.

The Group, which includes Volga-Dnepr Airlines, the world’s largest transporter of unique, oversize and heavyweight air cargo, and AirBridgeCargo (ABC), one of the fastest-growing international scheduled cargo airlines, formally received its latest -8 at a handover ceremony in Everett, Washington.

Painted in AirBridgeCargo’s distinctive blue and white livery, the new delivery increases the size of ABC’s fleet to 16 B747 freighters and continues its long-term fleet enhancement strategy.

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Tatyana Arslanova, vice president, strategic management and charter cargo operations at Volga-Dnepr Group, cuts the red ribbon to mark the handover of the new B747-8F to AirBridgeCargo, joined by Sergey Lazarev, general director of AirBridgeCargo Airlines, and Alexey Isaykin, president of Volga-Dnepr Group.

In July, Volga-Dnepr Group confirmed its order for 20 new B747-8 Freighters and today’s delivery represented the fifth aircraft in this agreement. Future deliveries will lead to the phasing out of the remaining B747-400Fs in AirBridgeCargo’s fleet. The handover event also celebrated the launch by ABC of twice-weekly B747-8F services from Seattle to Moscow via Chicago and Europe. Seattle becomes ABC’s sixth online gateway in North America.

Volga-Dnepr Group’s strong relationship with Boeing was emphasised with the signing of a long-term logistics support agreement between the two companies at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow. It covers the provision of logistics services by Volga-Dnepr Group to Boeing and its partners using its fleet of An-124-100 and B747 freighters.

“The addition of Seattle to AirBridgeCargo’s growing international network and the delivery of our latest -8 Freighter is not only strategically important to the development of ABC, it also allows our Group to fulfill its obligations under the long-term logistics support programme agreement with Boeing and its partners for the transportation of aerospace cargoes.

“For Volga-Dnepr Group, we are confident our fleet of An-124 and B747 freighters will enable us to successfully compete and fulfill our commitments to our customers,” said Alexey Isaykin, president of Volga-Dnepr Group.

Marty Bentrott, vice president Russia, Central Asia and Middle East Sales for commercial airplanes, added: “We are confident that the tenth Boeing 747-8F delivered to Volga-Dnepr Group will help the company to implement its ambitious plans in the global cargo transportation market.

In return, the Boeing Company intends to support and maintain this strategic partnership, which combines the strengths of our companies and our unique experience of developing joint solutions in the interests of aerospace industry customers. For us, Volga-Dnepr Group is not just a customer, it is a reliable partner with a proven track record demonstrated over our many years of cooperation.”