The decision to launch scheduled cargo operations was taken by Volga-Dnepr’s Management team in autumn 2002.

As scheduled cargo operations differed fundamentally from Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ charter business – the Group’s core activity - the management team decided to create a new company, AirBridge Cargo.

Established for work on the international scheduled cargo market, AirBridge Cargo became a new trade mark in Volga-Dnepr Group’s portfolio.

The Volga-Dnepr Group now offers its clients more than ever before, adding scheduled services linking Europe, China and Russia to an already impressive list of worldwide charter and trucking services.

AirBridge Cargo became the first Russian cargo airline to perform flights using a Boeing 747 in May 2004 when it operated its first scheduled flight. AirBridge Cargo currently operates two Boeing 747-200F and one Boeing 747-300.

The company is considering different aircraft types to support the strategic development of its route network. AirBridge Cargo plans to operate a mixed fleet of Boeing 747 freighters on trunk routes and Russian-built Ilyushin-76, AN-12 or Tupolev 204 freighters on regional feeder flights. Looking forward AirBridge Cargo will endeavor to operate a fleet of a minimum eight Boeing 747s and four to six Russian-built aircraft.

AirBridge Cargo’s flight crew has been trained to operate Boeing 747 aircraft in Lufthansa’s Flight Training Centre in Germany. All pilots were selected with previous experience of Boeing aircraft operations. A check crew all with experience of working with the Boeing 747 accompanied each flight during the initial months of operation. Now the flights are operated by ABC pilots, two of whom are certified flight instructors.

As a result of the tender organized by AirBridge Cargo, Lufthansa Technik, the largest MRO provider in the world, has been chosen to supply a range of overhaul, maintenance and engineering services to AirBridge Cargo’s Boeing 747 freighter fleet. ABC is planning to create its own MRO, providing services supported by Lufthansa which will allow AirBridge Cargo to undertake periodic checks and overhaul maintenance at in Moscow and in Krasnoyarsk.

Russia’s advantageous geographical location for traffic between the Asia Pacific region and Europe creates a number of competitive advantages for the new airline and its customers.

Currently the flight schedule includes flights from Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Luxemburg via Moscow (Sheremetyevo) and Krasnoyarsk to China and Japan. The flights from China to Europe are carried out via the hub in Krasnoyarsk. In the beginning of 2005 ABC added Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Sakhalin Island in Siberia to its flight network and performs flights there via Krasnoyarsk.

In Russia and China, AirBridge Cargo conduct sales via its own offices, while in Europe it has chosen general sales agents. The airline has offices in all airports that are included in our network in China, Russia, as well as Amsterdam and Frankfurt. It has appointed Air Cargo Trader (ACT) as its representative in Europe. With extensive sales networks across Europe, ACT has a proven track record of marketing B747 cargo capacity. ABC has also appointed GSA’s in North America – Mercury Air Group in USA and Air Canada to represent it in Canada.

Today, the airline offers its services to multi-national freight forwarding companies, to leading regional forwarders and global network logistics companies.

It is planned that the flight network will develop in three key directions:

1. Global network development
   From the outset, the formation and development of the airline’s global network will be realized by building partnerships and interline agreements with international cargo airlines. AirBridge Cargo has already signed a memorandum of co-operation with Cargolux in Luxembourg covering interline opportunities and co-operation in areas including aircraft maintenance and IT. Negotiations are in process with a number of other airlines.
2. Regional network development
   A regional network in Russia and China, serviced by Russian-built cargo aircraft, will be one of AirBridge Cargo’s unique service offerings. Direct access to the fast growing Chinese and Russian markets via regional airports will play an important role in generating traffic for the company’s services and its future business development. The existing network of truck ground transportation routes also widens the choice of directions provided by ABC to its clients.
3. Development of cargo transportation hubs
   AirBridge Cargo will develop its own hubs, where cargo ground handling and logistics services will be carried out. AirBridge Cargo has signed an agreement with one of Europe’s leading ground handling organizations to jointly develop fully functional and versatile air cargo hubs in Moscow and Krasnoyarsk for the provision of ground handling and logistics services.
   On November 4th 2004, the Krasnoyarsk hub commenced operation. This unique hub will offer ABC clients unique possibilities through regional flights in Russia and CIS countries as well as cross-polar flights to the USA - Chicago, New York and Houston - and to Canada. ABC is also considering services to India, where it has rights to fly.