Volga-Dnepr managers were acknowledged during the Wings of the Future awards

Vitaliy Andreev, General Director of ATRAN Airlines, and Igor Knyazev, Project Manager, International Cooperation and Business Development at Volga-Dnepr Airlines, have been acknowledged during the Wings of the Future awards which took place on October 27th in Moscow, Russia.

The Wings of the Future Award aims to identify and introduce to the community young top-and mid-tier managers of commercial aviation companies and airports, who are under 35 years old and who are implementing innovative ideas and bringing new energy into business development. The people, who are shaping the future of the industry.

The organizers of the event commended their input into the strategic planning and business development of each airline. Vitaliy Andreev was distinguished for his effective network planning, building of relations with strategic partners and active fleet enlargement during the pandemic, which enabled the company to reach over 50% surge in cargo volumes in 2019 and 2020 and increase fleet utilization up to 400 flight hours per month.

‘I would like to thank the organizers of this awards, ATO EVENTS, for their massive support of young managers in our industry. This is not just a prize for me, this is an acknowledgement from my colleagues and industry experts which will serve as an impulse for further achievements and development. The award marks my personal milestone – it’s been 15 years since I joined the air cargo industry as an interim at the position of traffic controller while still being in my 4th year in university. I have been so lucky to have met real experts who became my teachers, and tutors and it is the right time to thank them once again for their support, knowledge and expertise. I feel positive about ATRAN’s future, which will be linked with international development and further growth, and I will keep on doing everything possible to support our ambitious plans’ – highlighted Vitaliy Andreev, General Director of ATRAN Airlines.

Igor Knyazev has accomplished extensive work to expand Volga-Dnepr’s global coverage and strengthen the footprint of the Russian Federation in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. In 2021 Volga-Dnepr has completed its sixth flight season in the coldest continent. Since 2015 the company has operated over 150 flights to/from the Antarctic delivering over 1,700 tonnes of general and special cargo. ‘I joined Volga-Dnepr in 2019 to support the realization of special projects which included active deployment of our unique Il-76TD-90VD freighter. Our regular programme to the Arctic and Antarctic regions has become one of such projects. I would like to thank organizers for their acknowledgement of this vital project – Volga-Dnepr keeps on advancing its services, offering new routes and delivery solutions, among them being ‘airlift-and-drop’ possibility, organization of transit flights through the Antarctic (South Africa-Antarctic-Chile), training of certified crew members. Wings of the Future for me is the sign that we are on the right track in the realization of our projects’, commented Igor Knyazev, Project Manager, International Cooperation and Business Development at Volga-Dnepr Airlines. Throughout the six years of its existence, the Wings of the Future awards has acknowledged over 150 specialists, with many of them taking managing positions and stimulating their colleagues being part of the event. The prize winners say that the award has become a milestone in their carrier and advanced their career path.