An-124-100: Driving Russia’s Leadership of the Unique, Outsize Air Cargo Market

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has showcased the unique operating capability of its Antonov An-124-100 ‘Ruslan’ freighter to delegates at the 11th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS 2013 in Moscow.

The event provided an opportunity to demonstrate the aircraft’s ability to provide logistics solutions for outsize and heavyweight air cargo on behalf of customers in a broad range of industry sectors, including aerospace, oil and gas, and heavy engineering as well as for humanitarian and peacekeeping cargoes.

Addressing the International Aviation Congress under the topic of ‘Progress in aircraft engineering and the new look of the all-freight service market’, Dennis Gliznoutsa, Vice President, Development, Volga-Dnepr Airlines, said: “23 years ago, Volga-Dnepr created a new area of the air cargo market for the global transportation of unique, outsize and super-heavy shipments and over the last two decades has become the world leader in this market because of the operational qualities of the An-124-100 ramp freighter. This has also been supported by the development of loading equipment systems for unique outsize cargo and has given Volga-Dnepr Airlines the opportunity to offer complex logistic solutions to customers, including supporting major global projects.

“Russia is ready to take a leading position in this market right now thanks to the experience of operating An-124-100 aircraft, its involvement in the production of this outstanding plane, and the rapidly expanding aviation logistics sphere with the entry into the Russian market of so-called ‘cargo supermarket’ companies. Volga-Dnepr is a leader among them.”