Volga-Dnepr Group history

| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |

August. The constituent conference of the Volga-Dnepr Company takes place. Alexey Isaikin has been elected Chairman of the Board of the newly created airline. The main shareholders of the company are:

• OAO Aviastar, a major aircraft-maker in Russia, manufacturer of the aircraft that are the mainstay of the Volga-Dnepr fleet – An-124-100 Ruslan freighter and passenger Tu-204 airliner;
• ZMKB Progress Design Bureau, Zaporozhye, Ukraine, aircraft engine manufacturer;
• Antonov Aeronautical Scientific Technical Complex, Kiev, Ukraine, designer of various aircraft types;
• AO Aviant, Kiev, Ukraine – Aircraft Manufacturing Plant.

The Volga-Dnepr joint stock company was registered in Ulyanovsk, Russia, with the registration number 1.

At the beginning of 1991 the first IL-76 aircraft was delivered to the airline; in August – the first An-124 Ruslan aircraft.

On September 17, together with the British Heavy-Lift Cargo Airlines, Volga-Dnepr Airlines incorporates the Joint Venture HeavyLift-VolgaDnepr, established to promote unique An-124-100 Ruslan capabilities on the international market. The joint venture is headquartered at the London-based Stansted airport.

November. Volga-Dnepr Airlines evacuates American Embassy property from Zaire overwhelmed in conflict within just three flights.

December. Volga-Dnepr was registered with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the VDA code was issued to the company.

Soviet Union collapse did not affect the airline’s strategic idea. One can say for sure that Volga-Dnepr’s establishment, endeavors of its management and a long-term experience focused on the unique An-124 aircraft operations, allowed the airline to make the Ruslan aircraft from a technological breakthrough into a serious factor of the Russian and world cargo aviation development.

May. An-124 of Volga-Dnepr Airlines delivered from Abu Dhabi (UAE) to Zurich (Switzerland) 52 tons of gold. The cargo cost was GBP230 mln.

March. Volga-Dnepr commences international operations under its own flag. The first international flight was made from the base airport Ulyanovsk-Vostochny en-route Ulyanovsk - Sofia.

April. The first transportation of a unique cargo was performed which required special handling and use of loading equipment. Two gas turbines each weighing 40 tons were delivered by Ruslan from Ostend (Belgium) to Rio-Gallegos (Argentina). The handling equipment was designed by the department of Technical Director and manufactured at Aviastar aircraft manufacturing plant (Ulyanovsk).

Volga-Dnepr joins the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as its associated member.

November. Volga-Dnepr is the first Russian cargo airline to become member of the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), which is a non-profit industry organization bringing together companies involved in the air freight business.

The airline obtains over 70 licenses to charter flights in different parts of the world. According to the Decree by the Russian Government, Volga-Dnepr becomes designated air carrier between the USA and Russia, China and Russia.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines acting in compliance with the US aviation authorities commenced transportation of unique and oversize cargo within the US territory.

April. A cooperation agreement has been signed with the leading Japanese trade company Mitsui, whereby Mitsui represents Volga-Dnepr on the Japanese market. The Company establishes its Motor Trucking Department to provide door-to-door deliveries to its customers.

July. Volga-Dnepr Airlines has been officially registered in the UN register. October. Volga-Dnepr received authorization from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to scheduled flights between the USA and Russia.

Volga-Dnepr obtains and renews licenses to fly under its own flag in more than 110 countries. The company commences operations under its own flag to Italy, Israel, Hong Kong, and other countries.

Alexey Isaikin, President of the Airline, was declared Man of the Year in the category Entrepreneurs and Financiers in accordance with the expert commission findings of the Russian Biographical Institute and the Who is Who newspaper.

March. The Volga-Dnepr maintenance base has been certified by the Department of Air Transport to perform the entire range of maintenance services for An-124-100, Il-76, An-12, and An-32. The Volga-Dnepr maintenance facility has become second in Russia after the Sheremetyevo international complex to obtain such rights.

April. Volga-Dnepr conducts the First Aircraft Performance Conference on An-124-100 aircraft. During the conference, Volga-Dnepr called on the aircraft operators, designers and manufacturers to bring their efforts together in order to develop and implement programs to improve the An-124-100 aircraft.

June. The Russian Transportation Ministry Air Transport Department acting in accordance with the Russian-Chinese intergovernmental agreement issues certificates to Volga-Dnepr Airlines for scheduled flights en-route Ulyanovsk-Tientsin, Ulyanovsk-Shenzhen on An-124-100 and IL-76 aircraft, and Ulyanovsk-Dalian, Ulyanovsk-Shenzhen on IL-76. Volga-Dnepr receives the customs carrier certificate within the Russian territory becoming the first Russian airline enjoying such a status.

July. NIC insurance company has been established to provide reliable insurance coverage of airline’s risks. Volga-Dnepr is the major founder (99% of the nominal capital).

March. An-124 of Volga-Dnepr Airlines delivered from Atlanta (USA) to Vladivostok a production modular line for Coca-Cola weighing 81 tons total. This dispatch was justly called Factory by Air.

May. Volga-Dnepr Airlines wins the British Petroleum tender to deliver oil equipment to Columbia. At the end of the month the first bulk traffic in the world has been commenced to transport oversize and heavy cargo to the El Yopal mountain airfield. Within two months the airline performed 53 flights and delivered 3,750 tons of cargo. Execution of this program took a number of years.

The first foreign line maintenance station has been set up in Sharjah Airport, UAE. Volga-Dnepr has been certified to perform maintenance services for An-12 and Il-76. September. Volga-Dnepr Airlines is the official carrier for Master Rally-97 Paris - Beijing.

November. Volga-Dnepr commences scheduled Ulyanovsk-Moscow flights (Vnukovo Airport) on YaK-40 aircraft.

A line maintenance station has been certified in Shannon, Ireland, to service An-124-100 aircraft.

July. By order of George Lucas, legendary author of Was Stars, Volga-Dnepr Airlines delivered from London 100 tons of equipment, including a spaceship model, within one flight.

August. The Association of Cargo Airlines (AGAK) has been established upon the Volga-Dnepr initiative.

Volga-Dnepr was awarded an honor diploma by the International Flight Safety Foundation for its over five years of accident-free work.

October. Volga-Dnepr Airlines breaks the record in commercial cargo transportation: it delivers from Paris to Doha (Qatar) a unique 125-ton chemical reactor, the total cargo weight including its handling equipment was 140 tons.

March. Volga-Dnepr Airlines wins the national prize Wings of Russia – 97 in the category Domestic and International Cargo Carrier.

September. Volga-Dnepr initiates the establishment of a TIACA subdivision for Russia and the CIS countries. Alexey Isaikin, General Director of Volga-Dnepr Airlines is elected TIACA Chairman for Russia and the CIS countries.

The Federal Aviation Authorities of Russia appoint Volga-Dnepr leading aviation enterprise operating An-124-100 Ruslan. Therefore, Volga-Dnepr became a leader bringing together efforts of the Russian operators and manufacturers of freighters and their parts to implement the Ruslan upgrading program.

March. Volga-Dnepr Airlines wins the national prize Wings of Russia -98 in the category Domestic and International Cargo Carrier for the second time.

October. The first flight within the long-term cooperation program of Volga-Dnepr and Lockheed Martin (Number Two in global airspace industry after Boeing) was performed. The program provides for transportation of space launch vehicles and parts to perform commercial space launch of satellites into the orbit.

November. An investment loan in the amount of $6 mln has been received from the Russian Sberbank for financing completion of a new An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft December. The company breaks the record in flight hours. For the first time over the airline’s 9-year business, the monthly flight time by An-124-100 Ruslan exceeded 1,200 hrs.

March. The Volga-Dnepr Airlines wins the national prize Wings of Russia-99 in the category Domestic and International Cargo Carrier for the third time.

April. An-124-100 of Volga-Dnepr Airlines performed a historical direct flight with the gear down from Gander airport, Canada, and landed successfully at the Ulyanovsk-Vostochny airport. Within 9 hours and 45 minutes the aircraft crossed 6,754 km.

July. The Russian Sberbank and Volga-Dnepr Airlines signed a deal for opening a credit line by the airline in the amount of $10 mln for the duration of 4.5 years. The loan by Sberbank will be used to purchase another An-124-100 Ruslan and upgrade the Volga-Dnepr aircraft fleet.

December. To establish the own global sales network Volga-Dnepr Airlines opens subsidiaries on either hand of the Atlantic ocean: Volga-Dnepr Unique Air Cargo, Inc. in Houston (USA) and Volga-Dnepr UK Ltd. in Stansted (United Kingdom).

As at the end of 2000, the Volga-Dnepr aircraft have made over 70 flights to deliver equipment and gear for the UN peacekeepers across the globe, thus becoming the largest Russian supplier of transportation services for this organization.

Beginning February 1, the joint Russian-British venture HeavyLift-VolgaDnepr LTD established on September 17, 1991 to represent the outstanding An-124-100 freighter on the international market, terminates its operations. The main reason behind the decision by Volga-Dnepr to terminate the joint venture was the inability with this type of organization to attract sizable investment to further expand the An-124-100 fleet and increase the legal and financial liability regarding its customers.

Volga-Dnepr is awarded a prize by the American Air Transport World magazine in the category Air Cargo Service Development. This award was granted to the Russian airline for the first time ever.

March. The Volga-Dnepr IL-76TD aircraft delivered a humanitarian cargo to Afghanistan. At that moment an embargo imposed by a UN Security Council resolution was in place regarding the Taliban movement. However, an exception was made in case of Volga-Dnepr Airlines. This humanitarian mission has been implemented as a good will gesture by the Government of Japan, which sponsored acquisition of the needed equipment.

October. The airline has been inspected by the ICAO expert commission as part of the complex inspection of the Russian civil aviation to check its compliance with the requirements by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Chicago Convention. Volga-Dnepr got all positive feedback, and a number of the own solutions have been recommended for use as basic standards for other Russian airlines.

In 2001 the establishment of Volga-Dnepr Group has been commenced on the basis of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, the key business unit of the Group. Implementation by the management of the Group strategic plan of development resulted in a new product of Volga-Dnepr on global market – international cargo charters on unique An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft.

February. Volga-Dnepr Airlines received the Aerospace Laurels-2002 prize awarded by the prestigious American Aviation Week & Space Technology weekly in the category Commercial Air Transport.

May. On May 22 Ruslan aircraft delivered from Hamburg to Moscow 105 tons of equipment for an exclusive concert of Sir Paul McCartney at the Red Square. The shipment included 8 huge screens placed into special containers. On May 25 the airline dispatched the same cargo into Dublin, Ireland.

June. The Volga-Dnepr International Group of Companies won the Grand Prix of the national award For Success in HR Management.

At the world biggest Le Burge air show (France) Volga-Dnepr presented its program implemented together with Ilyushin Aviation Complex to upgrade the IL-76 aircraft performing 90% of all emergency cargo services in the world. The engines and avionics replacement resulted in a significant improvement of the aircraft performance to meet the ICAO requirements. This modification has been called IL-76TD-90VD (VD at the end means Volga-Dnepr).

A decision has been made within the framework of the program to introduce the Volga-Dnepr Group of Companies on the international market of scheduled cargo operations to launch the project Scheduled Cargo Service. An international team was built headed by Stanley Wright, Project Managing Director, in June, and Peter Yup, Sales and Marketing Director for Asia and the Pacific, in October. Two Boeing-747-200 freighters have been purchased from Alitalia airlines. The new airline was established as part of the scheduled cargo project and was named Air Bridge Cargo.

February. To implement the IL-76 upgrade program successfully which gained the national status by the Rasaviacosmos decision, Volga-Dnepr established an affiliate Volga-Dnepr-Leasing. The manufacture of the first two modified IL-76TD-90VD aircraft ordered by the airline at the Tashkent aircraft manufacturing plant got its first tranche.

March. The Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP aircraft manufacturing plant completes construction of a new super-heavy An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft for the Volga-Dnepr Group of Companies. The new Ruslan is an anniversary one for Volga-Dnepr, being the 10th in the airline’s fleet. The construction of a new An-124 version was financed by the Volga-Dnepr Group of Companies through the IFC loan and the own company funds.

April. On April 23 operated by Vladimir Grebennikov, one of the most experienced pilots of the airline and holder of the Nesterov medal, Boeing 747-200 made its first flight under the Volga-Dnepr call sign en-route Moscow – Beijing. AirBridgeCargo flight history has began.

May. Volga-Dnepr Airlines and the Krasnoyarsk district administration have entered into agreement to establish a multi-modal logistic transportation hub on the basis of the Krasnoyarsk airport

July. Volga-Dnepr airlines obtained an official certificate of membership in the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which finalized the Volga-Dnepr accession to this organization.

January. Over 1,300 tons of humanitarian aid commissioned by UN and the International Red Cross have been delivered to the areas in Southeast Asia that have been hit hard by tsunami resulted in death of over 150 thousand people.

Transportation of Sony PlayStation-2, which took 14 weeks, has been completed, and became one of the largest logistics programs in the history of commercial freight aviation March. Volga-Dnepr has become the Airline of the Year for the fourth time winning the national prize Wings of Russia -04 in the category Domestic and International Cargo Carrier.

The joint Russian-Ukrainian meeting approved the business plan to restore serial production and phased-in upgrading of An-124-100 aircraft at the enterprises in Russia and Ukraine.

May. The ISO 9000:2001 compliance certificate was received from IQNet August. An-124-150M and Il-76TD-90VD are revealed to the public for the first time ever during MAKS-2005 air show. A number of important documents have been signed, too. The opening ceremony for the elementary author school named Istochnik founded by the Volga-Dnepr airlines has been held.

September. Volga-Dnepr made several flights to deliver humanitarian aid to the victims of Katrina hurricane, which slammed the southeastern US coast at the end of August.

October. Nippon Cargo Airlines and AirBridge Cargo airlines signed a cooperation agreement.

January. The IL-76TD-90VD aircraft received a local noise certificate saying that the standard aircraft design complies with requirements of ICAO Chapter 4, Appendix 16 February. Volga-Dnepr Gulf employees in the United Arab Emirates raised some charity to set up the orthodox Saint Nicholas chapel in Sharjah.

March. The inauguration ceremony for the cargo service project involving the EU and NATO countries in connection with the official SALIS start-up was held at the Leipzig-Halle airport, Germany. The tender resulted in An-124-100 to be chosen as a freighter offered by Ruslan SALIS GmbH, a joint venture of the Volga-Dnepr Group of Companies and Antonov Aeronautical Scientific Technical Complex.

May. The first acceptance flight of the modified IL-76TD-90VD was successfully performed in Ulyanovsk. The aircraft arrived in Ulyanovsk on May 6 from Tashkent where the ceremony was held with the presence of Dmitry Medvedev, first Prime Minister of Russia. The new aircraft meets all the ICAO requirements.

June. The upgraded IL-76TD-90VD performed its first commercial flight en-route Kuwait – Bombay (India) – Utapao (India) – Taipei (Taiwan) – Sendai (Japan). Introduction into commercial operation of IL-76TD-90VD accomplished a three-year work of the aircraft modernization and manufacture.

AirBridgeCargo increased the IL-76 flight frequency to the Sakhalin Island up to twice a week and opened its representative office there. The establishment of the second flight from Krasnoyarsk to Sakhalin is to meet the growing demand for the delivery of oil&gas equipment for the regional companies.

July. In Krasnoyarsk the first stone was laid into the foundation of a new cargo hub within the Emelyanovo airport. The following partners involved in the first Russian hub project took part in the ceremony: the Krasnoyarsk district administration, AirBridgeCargo (the cargo carrier to be based at the hub), KrasAir, and the world storehouse operator SWISSPORT. Introduction into commercial service of a new hub is estimated for 2007.

Within the Volga-Dnepr Airlines and Antonov Airlines participation, a joint Russian-Ukrainian project Ruslan International has been launched. The common logistic center of cargo operations was set up to act as a marketing agent of both operators. A joint utilization of both airlines’ slots will allow them to provide their customers with the extended range of services in aviation logistics.

September. Boeing 747 of AirBridgeCargo airline transported Madonna’s equipment from Moscow to Japan for her world Confessions Tour concert there. An exclusive show in Russia took place on September 12 at the Moscow Luzhniki stadium. The shipment was 193 tons total.

October. On October 18 AirBridgeCargo obtained its operator certificate allowing operation of Boeing 747s and the own air services. AirBridgeCargo is the first Russian airline to provide schedule air cargo services en-route Europe – Russia – Asia. AirBridgeCargo flights under its own call sign were commenced in May 2004.

The nine months of 2006 resulted in Volga-Dnepr’s becoming carrier Number One on the Russian market. Within these nine months the airline has carried over 95 thousand tons of cargo across the world which is 1.6 times more than a year before.

In Leipzig (Germany) within the Ruslan SALIS project Volga-Dnepr Group launched the maintenance base for the Russian-manufactured equipment.

January. An-124-100 aircraft of Volga-Dnepr Airlines supported a unique polar expedition which involved the two Russian Mi-8 helicopters reaching the South Pole. Within the whole history of Antarctic exploration helicopters have never reached the southmost point of the Earth. The expedition was headed by A.Chilingarov, Vice Speaker of the State Duma, and Mr. N.Patrushev, Director of Federal Security Service, as its participant.

Thereafter by order of Vladimir Putin all the five Volga-Dnepr employees were honored with awards and encouraged for successful high-latitude air dispatch, and Mr. Alexey Isaikin, President of the Group, was awarded with a medal for Interaction with the Federal Security Service of Russia.

Volga-Dnepr group and Motor Sich Airlines have declared the establishment of their joint venture Cargo Aircraft Managing Company. The Managing Company was assigned with the supervision and leadership activities within the project to relaunch the An-124-100 aircraft serial manufacture.

Volga-Dnepr Group has acted as sponsor of the 80-anniversary of Yury Grigorovich concert, an outstanding Russian choreographer and ballet-master. The event took place on January 28 at Covent Garden, London.

March. Volga-Dnepr Group and the Boeing Company execute a purchase contract for five brand-new long-range Boeing 747-8 Freighters. The contract grants Volga-Dnepr right to purchase five more linters of this type.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has become winner of the national aviation prize Wings of Russia -06 in the category Domestic and International Cargo Carrier. It is the fifth award running gained by Volga-Dnepr Group in this upmarket contest.

June. Ruslan aircraft delivered to the Guatemala capital an artificial-ice skating rink including the auxiliary equipment used during the Sochi-2014 presentation. It is a general fact that an amazing ice show prior to voting of the International Olympic Committee was to a much extent a contribution to the Russia’s triumph.

August. At the VIII International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2007 Volga-Dnepr Group, Motor Sich Airlines and Antonov Design Bureau announced the completion of the first stage of Ruslan aircraft upgrade and its An-124-100M-150 model certification, and signed the agreement to relaunch the serial production and modification of this unique aircraft fleet.

Within MAKS-2007 Volga-Dnepr signed a firm contract with Ilyushin Interstate aircraft manufacturing company for the production and delivery of three IL-76TD-90VDs. This order was the first firm contract for freighters executed by the United Aircraft Corporation. September. A ceremonial transfer of the second upgraded IL-76TD-90VD to Volga-Dnepr Airlines took place.

November. Volga-Dnepr Airlines obtains IOSA certificate verifying the airline’s compliance with the flight safety standards. Volga-Dnepr was the first cargo airline in Russia and the CIS and the second one in the world to pass the IOSA audit to meet the IATA new standards.

AirBridgeCargo received its first Boeing 747-400 ERF to become the first cargo airline in Russia to operate this aircraft type.

By results of 2007 Volga-Dnepr Group entered Top Three on the Russian market of air traffic volume.

The group sales volume became 51% higher as compared to 2006 thus making $1054 mln. Thereat charter sales volume grew by 62%, and ABC growth was 32%.

The Group business units have carried 212.9 thousand tons of cargo across the world thus making 41% growth. The net profit was US$50 mln.

February. Volga-Dnepr Airlines and KrasAir established a new cargo terminal within the Krasnoyarsk Emelyanovo airport. It is planned to set up the first international hub in Russia on the basis of the cargo terminal. AirBridgeCargo is a major operator of the new terminal.

AirBridgeCargo accepted delivery of the second Boeing 747-400ERF. The new aircraft will be operated on ABC current routes as leased from GE Commercial Aviation Services. March. Volga-Dnepr Airlines has been awarded with the Wings of Russia prize for the six time running.

April. AirBridgeCargo received from the Boeing Company the third B747-400ERF. Its delivery completed the first stage of ABC fleet modernization program involving the purchase of new aircraft and removal from service of the first two Boeing 747-200s, the oldest aircraft in the fleet.

May. AirBridgeCargo delivered 160 tons of humanitarian aid for victims of cyclone in Myanmar and earthquake in South-West China.

Volga-Dnepr Group and Cubana de Aviacion and AeroVaradero agreed to establish the joint team to analyze the feasibility of creating a cargo air hub on the basis of the Havana airport Hose Marti.

June. Within the XII Saint Petersburg Economic Forum, Volga-Dnepr Group and the Ulyanovsk district administration signed a strategic partnership agreement. The parties agreed of the joint activities to implement the Group investment project in Ulyanovsk including the Special Economic Port Area. The parties’ endeavors resulted in the establishment of a modern operational maintenance, repair and upgrade base for Russian and foreign-manufactured aircraft.

Within the XII Saint Petersburg Economic Forum, Volga-Dnepr Group and the Krasnoyarsk district administration signed a cooperation agreement to establish the Krasnoyarsk international air hub and the Special Economic Port Area as its part.

AirBridgeCargo received from the Ministry of Transport of Canada the foreign operator certificate verifying the airline’s compliance with the flight safety requirements and allowing it to obtain commercial rights to perform flights to Canada. July. An-124-100 delivered from Kaliningrad to Ulan-Ude two submarines Mir-1 and Mir-2 for the Baikal expedition involving the first diving ever onto the bottom of the world deepest lake in its history.

Boeing 747 of AirBridgeCargo delivered to Moscow a 60-ton equipment for the world-known Iron Maiden rock group concert to take place in the capital of Russia for the first time after a 15-year break on August 19, 2008 within their world tour.

September. The focus of the group major business units – Volga-Dnepr Airlines and AirBridgeCargo – on the achievement of those operational figures that are stipulated by the Group approved strategy, resulted in some new appointments of top management. Valery Gabriel is appointed Executive President, Volga-Dnepr Airlines; Gennady Pivovarov occupies position of Executive President, AirBridgeCargo; Tatyana Arslanova is appointed Senior Vice President for Strategy, Marketing and Sales, AirBridgeCargo.

October. According to the annual Expert magazine rating, Volga-Dnepr Group entered Top Three of the Russian largest aviation enterprises for sales volume, and Top Two in growth rates.

On 14 October, Volga-Dnepr delivered twelve cable reels from Stockholm, Sweden to Campinas, Brazil. The 100-tonnes consignment was carried onboard an Antonov 124-100 aircraft. Reels were loaded using the aircraft's overhead cranes without any special tooling.

November. Volga-Dnepr's IL-76TD-90VD carried three white whales from Vladivostok, Russia to Tokyo's Narita Airport, Japan.

The Fifth Ocean, a corporate publication of Volga-Dnepr Group, was named among the best corporate publications by "The Best Corporate Publications of Russia 2007-2008" digest.

On 3 November, a Sukhoi Superjet 3 aircraft flew from Komsomolsk-on-Amur to Novosibirsk, Russia for fatigue testing onboard Volga-Dnepr's AN-124-100. SSJ-100 fuselage, wings and tail unit were loaded using AN-124-100 special loading equipment and later put together at the destination.

A 112-tonnes power plant rotor was delivered onboard AN-124-100 from Leipzig, Germany to Shanghai, China.

Volga-Dnepr Group was nominated for the prestigious People Investor 2008 Award.

December. On 4 December, Volga-Dnepr's Antonov 124-100 delivered a rotor wheel from Saint Petersburg, Russia to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for the Kambaratinsk HPP-2 hydroelectric power plant. Volga-Dnepr's newly developed proprietary tooling and technology were used to carry the superheavy shipment totaling 98 tonnes, having height of 3.5 m and diameter of 6.25 m, in a 'suspended' condition inside the cargo cabin. It took two months to manufacture the unique loading complex at Ulyanovsk factories.

As part of the Sakhalin-2 project, diving equipment intended to ensure uninterrupted offshore oil and gas production operations was delivered from East Midlands, UK to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia. The 25-tonnes shipment was carried by the IL-76TD-90VD aircraft.

IL-76TD-90VD transported thirteen magnets totaling 140 tonnes in a series of eight flights. Superconducting electromagnets were produced at Novosibirsk Institute of Nuclear Physics for use in medical hardware for non-surgical treatment of oncological diseases, as well as scientific research.

Volga-Dnepr Group performance in 2008 showed sales of USD1,615.65 million and tonnage carried of 267,000 tonnes, a 55% and 25% increase respectively compared to 2007. The Group managed to achieve this sustainable growth thanks to the effective combination of its two core businesses – charter transportation of outsize and heavy cargo by Antonov 124 and Ilyushin 76 fleet of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, and Boeing 747F scheduled services of AirBridgeCargo Airlines.

January. On 12 January, Alexey Isaikin took the post of Executive President of AirBridgeCargo Airlines.

Lake Baikal Preservation Foundation expressed its deepest gratitude to Volga-Dnepr Airlines for the company's contribution to the Baikal expedition of MIR submarines.

February. Equipment was delivered for Corumba III hydroelectric power plant construction project in Brazil. A synergy of two aircraft types, AN-124-100 and B747, was used in this transportation as 120 tonnes of cargo had to be carried to Brazil. AN-124-100 lifted 70 tonnes, namely a 29-tonnes rotor and other outsize hydro turbine equipment, from Ulyanovsk.

The first stage of Volga-Dnepr Corporate University project was successfully implemented. The initial Corporate University workshop held on 12 January practically gave the green light for pilot testing of this initiative. The CU trial phase will continue until December 2009.

March. As part of organizational optimization steps, Valery Gabriel was appointed Executive President of Volga-Dnepr Airlines. Sergey Dyachkov became Executive Senior Vice President, Operations.

On 15 March, mining equipment for development of diamond deposits was delivered from Calgary, Canada to Archangelsk, Russia onboard AN-124-100. The flight was operated for FORACO SAS, a worldwide drilling service provider. The weight of the shipment (compressors, generators, machinery, measuring equipment) totalled 94 tonnes.

A tunnel drilling machine and supporting equipment weighing 188 tonnes destined for construction of Winter Olympic Games 2014 transport infrastructure projects was delivered from Novosibirsk to Sochi, Russia onboard Volga-Dnepr's AN-124-100 in two flights.
The first consignment arrived in Sochi on 11 March, and the second – on 13 March. The flight was operated for Bamtonnelstroy construction company, a tunnel contractor for Russian Railways.

Volga-Dnepr provided its services to support the first visit of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Africa on 17-23 March. Throughout the Pontiff's trip on the African continent, his four-tonnes armoured Mercedes was carried onboard the IL-76TD-90VD.

April. The Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Russian Federation Victor Khristenko paid a visit to Ulyanovsk to see the Antonov 124-100 aircraft of Volga-Dnepr Airlines. Victor Khristenko was shown the final assembly shop of Aviastar aircraft factory. The President of Volga-Dnepr Group Alexey Isaikin gave a presentation of Antonov 124 Resumed Series Production Project to the high guest inside the aircraft.

AirBridgeCargo Airlines, a scheduled services arm of Volga-Dnepr Group, won the Wings of Russia Award 2008 as 'The Airline of the Year – Cargo Carrier on Domestic and International Routes'. This became the seventh success of the Group in the most prestigious Russian airline competition.

May. Volga-Dnepr contributed to the international anti-piracy campaign by delivering equipment and supplies for Japan Ministry of Defense by two AN-124-100 flights from Sendai, Japan to the Republic of Djibouti in Africa to fight sea piracy near Somali coast.

August. During the MAKS 2009 Air Show in Moscow, OAK (Russia's United Aircraft Corporation) Vice President for Transport Airplanes Victor Livanov, General Designer of Antonov Design Bureau Dmitry Kyva and President of Volga-Dnepr Group Alexey Isaikin signed technical specifications for development of a new AN-124 modification. Technical design requirements were set by OAK and ADB in direct coordination with the launching customer for new AN-124 – Volga-Dnepr Group.

The new performance characteristics would feature the payload of 150 tons, increased range to 4,000 km with maximum load (15,000 km with zero payload), reduced crew to 3 members, comprehensive modernization of avionics and general improvement of operating efficiency.

September. Volga-Dnepr Airlines served a Dakar Series-brand Silk Way Rally 2009 that run through Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan from 5 по 13 September. The carrier was responsible for general dispatch of flight operations by a joint flight detachment in support of the motor race. After the finish, one of Volga-Dnepr's AN-124-100 brought 4 trucks and 14 off-road cars of participants back home from Ashgabat to Leipzig.

October Volga-Dnepr Airlines was awarded as the Best Cargo Charter Airline of the Year 2009 by the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) at BACA Excellence Awards.

November In order to implement the route network development strategy and to expand its uniform and competitive fleet, AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), has added to its current fleet one more Boeing 747-400ER Freighter, a most suitable version for scheduled operations. The fleet consists of 7 Boeing freighters: 4 Boeing 747-400ERF, 1 Boeing 747-300F and 2 Boeing 747-200F.

During the visit of the State Council to CJSC Aviastar-SP in Ulyanovsk the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev got on board of Antonov 124 and shared his opinion: “The market is huge, the cargo traffic is great, meanwhile few similar freighters are available worldwide. Someone is going to fill the gap. Better to engage our domestic enterprise; we could do it in cooperation with the US”. The AN-124 Resumed Production Project received support for future.

December Based upon the 2009 results AirBridgeCargo was rewarded as a “Best cargo performer 2009”. This event was held by Fraport Cargo services (FCS) and involved the carriers operating in Frankfurt airport. ABC was ranked first in the “Most volume in 2009” category, leaving behind Cathay Pacific and Emirates. 11-month tonnage totaled to 31 040 tonnes, which is 30 % higher compared to the same period of previous year.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines' IL-76TD delivered a collection of jewelry masterpieces of the era of Great Mughal rule exhibited at the Hermitage Museum from Saint Petersburg, Russia to Al Kuwait, Kuwait. The pieces of art belong to the personal collection of Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah such as jewelry masterpieces including a marvelous ruby renowned as 'The Timur Ruby'.

January. Volga-Dnepr Airlines's IL-76TD-90VD aircraft delivered aid and relief supplies, including search & rescue and emergency medical aid equipment, from Paris-Vatry Airport, France to Haiti suffering from the terrible earthquake.

February. On 01 February, Tatyana Arslanova took the post of Executive President of AirBridgeCargo Airlines.

On February, a "Kandahar" movie about the story of Russian aircraft crew was released in Russia. The plot of the film is based on real events. Four airmen of VDA staff were involved in the events used as a plot of the film. In 1995 they were the crew of IL-76 aircraft owned by a private airline from Kazan, Russia, that was operating a commercial flight from Albania to Afghanistan. In the sky over Kandahar the aircraft was intercepted by a Taliban fighter and forced to land under threat of rocket fire. Seven crewmembers were captured by Afghani Taliban militants. Russian crewmembers were kept prisoners for one year and 13 days. The only way to escape was a hijack. On 16 August, 1996, crewmembers managed to escape.