AirBridge Cargo, Russia's first scheduled all-cargo airline, said it completed its inaugural Boeing 747 commercial flight May 12 from Beijing in China to Luxembourg via Novosibirsk.
The new airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr Group, which operates a cargo charter carrier specializing in superheavyweight cargo, Volga-Dnepr Airlines.
AirBridge Cargo said it is positioning itself as a maindeck carrier targeting outsize shipments destined for the Russian marketplace that do not require a full charter, primarily for the oil and gas and mining sectors.
The airline's fleet currently consists of two 747-200 freighters. Initially, it will operate four flights a week, two services from Shanghai and two frequencies from Beijing via Moscow and Novosibirsk to Luxembourg. When the second aircraft enters service in June, AirBridge will introduce additional Shanghai services and open a new route from Tianjin.
AirBridge said it is currently operating under the umbrella of Volga-Dnepr. It will obtain its own operating certificate and become a fully independent airline by 2005. The airline has appointed Air Cargo Trader and International Aviation Services as its agents in Europe.
AirBridge said its long-term strategic development plan is to operate a combined fleet with 747s for trunk routes and Russian-built aircraft such as Tupolev Tu-204Cs or Ilyushin IL-76s for regional feeder services. Within five to six years, the airline expects to operate up to six 747 freighters and four to six Russian jets.
— Bruce Barnard
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