Volga-Dnepr first russian airline to win air transport world award

Washington, D.C., USA

Volga-Dnepr Airlines, the world leader in the superheavy and outsized air cargo market, is the first Russian airline to win an Award from Air Transport World, a leading international aviation publication.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has gained ATW recognition for developing the world air cargo transport market and, in particular, for creating a new market in the carriage of superheavy and outsized cargoes.

The award was received by Alexey Isaikin, Volga-Dnepr Airlines general director, at Air Transport World's Gala Awards Dinner on February 5 in Washington, D.C.

Volga-Dnepr's general director Alexey Isaikin says: "The recognition of Volga-Dnepr's commitment by such a prestigious award is very important for us. Ten years ago when we started the airline and had only one An-124-100 freighter, we could not even imagine that we would create a completely new segment in the world air cargo transport market -- changing the market structure as well as its approach to organizing superheavy and outsized cargo logistics. Today it became a reality and it is a pleasure to know that a Russian airline has made its contribution to developing the global air cargo business".

The annual award was established in 1974 by Air Transport World magazine, one of the most prestigious air transport publications, to recognize excellence in the air-line and commercial aerospace industries. Today, the ATW Award is one of the most highly-regarded professional awards in the aviation industry.

The other winners of this year are Continental Airlines as the Airline of the year, Lufthansa CityLine as Regional Airline of the year. Asiana Airlines received the Passen-ger Service Award. Jet Airways (India) received the Market Development Award. The Joseph S. Murphy Industry Service Award is being presented to Anthony J. Broderick, in recognition of his contributions to air safety regulation world-wide, both during his tenure as FAA associate administrator for regulation and certification, and afterwards as a private citizen and consultant. This award is newly renamed this year after ATW's founder, Joseph S. Murphy, who passed away last year.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines was established in 1990 in Ulyanovsk and is the most expe-rienced carrier world-wide of superheavy and outsized cargoes. The airline currently operates a fleet of ten Antonov An-124-100 Ruslans, the largest aircraft in the world, that is 48% of the An-124 global fleet.

The An-124-100's unique capabilities and outstanding performance together with special loading systems developed by the company's technical department allow Volga-Dnepr to keep its leadership in this field. Among Volga-Dnepr's clients are such brand-names as General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Hughes, British Petroleum and Bombar-dier Aerospace as well as governments and prominent international organizations.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has won the "Wings Of Russia" National Award as Cargo Airline of the Year, three years running, in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

For more information, please, contact:

PR department of Volga-Dnepr Airlines

Tel.: +7 095 245-5793; Fax: +7 095 244-2879;

E-mail: leon@msk.vda.ru