AirBridgeCargo receives third 747-400 extended range freighter

AirBridgeCargo Airlines, the scheduled cargo unit of Russia's Volga-Dnepr Group, on Thursday took delivery of its third Boeing 747-400 extended range freighter, which can carry 113,000 kilograms of cargo up to 8,240 kilometers.

The airline is leasing the freighter from AirCastle Advisor and will use it on existing routes from Asia to Russia and Europe, enabling it to increase non-stop services to Moscow from Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The introduction of the first and second B747-ERFs in November 2007 and February 2008, respectively, allowed AirBridgeCargo to start direct operations from Nagoya to St. Petersburg at the beginning of this year.

With the three 747-400ERFs now in its fleet, AirBridgeCargo said it is looking to launch services from Russia to North America later this year. The rest of the airline's fleet comprises two 747-200Fs and one 747-300SF.

The company's revenue increased 32 percent in 2007 to more than $300 million with traffic reaching 101,900 tons, up 29 percent. The Volga-Dnepr Group also has five firm orders for Boeing's new 747-8Fs with options for five more. Deliveries of those aircraft will commence in 2010. 

Source: American Shipper