Second new generation Il-76td-90VD freighter enters service with Volga-Dnepr Airlines

The second new generation IL-76TD-90VD freighter to join the Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ fleet has successfully completed its first commercial flight from Sweden to the United States after the airline took delivery of the aircraft in a special ceremony at Ulyanovsk-Vostochny Airport.

The 50 tonnes capacity freighter carried a 32.5 tonnes load from Gothenburg to Washington for Geodis Wilson Denmark A/S. The shipment included a 24.5 tonne armoured vehicle and a 20 foot container of equipment.

The aircraft was built for Volga-Dnepr by TAPO (Tashkent Aircraft Factory). The delivery of three more IL-76TD-90VD – to be built by TAPO under the order placed by Volga-Dnepr Airlines with MAK Ilyushin in August – is expected between 2009 and 2010.

The first IL-76TD-90VD joined Volga-Dnepr’s fleet in summer 2006. Meeting all ICAO requirements, this modified freighter has significantly developed the market for IL-76 ramp freighter services worldwide. In 2006, IL-76 services represented a 29% share of all Volga-Dnepr flights and contributed 16% of the Group’s total sales.

Dennis Gliznoutsa, Commercial Director of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, said: “The arrival of our second IL-76TD-90VD aircraft is a big boost because of the level of demand for the new IL-76 from customers around the world. Since joining the fleet in the second quarter of 2006, our first aircraft has operated in Europe, the US, Australia and Japan – all markets closed to older versions of the IL-76 because of noise restrictions imposed in 2000.

“With the arrival of our second aircraft and Volga-Dnepr Group’s recent order for three more IL-76TD-90VD freighters for delivery in 2009/10, we will stay at the forefront of worldwide IL-76 cargo operations. The IL-76 is a unique and highly popular freighter and this new version has the added benefits of higher capacity, longer range and other operating efficiencies.”

For information:
The IL-76TD-90VD is a modern modification of the IL-76 cargo ‘workhorse’ and is the only commercial aircraft in the world in the 30-50 tons capacity niche market that is capable of transporting outsized cargo to practically any airfield worldwide. Today, the IL-76TD-90VD is the only freighter model of the famous Ilyushin design that meets the latest ICAO requirements and is admitted to the important markets of Western Europe, Europe, Australia and Japan that are restricted for Ilyushin’s older versions. In February 2007, the IL-76 operated its first commercial flight to the USA for six years. The aircraft is now the most cost efficient ramp freighter solution in the 20-50 ton cargo market. The IL-76TD-90VD’s transportation cost per ton of cargo is half the cost of using a C130 Hercules, the closest and most probably the only Western counterpart to the IL-76TD.

Volga-Dnepr forecasts the general commercial market demand for new IL-76’s until 2015 to be around 15-20 freighters.