Volga-Dnepr Group of Companies has announced a 75% increase in sales for the first nine months of 2008 with total revenue from its charter and scheduled cargo transportation services of $1.265 billion compared to the same period a year ago.
  • Total cargo tonnage was up by 51% to 210,000 tons
  • Cargo carried onboard the Groups AN-124-100 fleet grew by 56% to 52,000 tons
  • Volga-Dnepr's IL-76's fleet carried over 60,000 tons, 71% more than in the previous year
  • Revenues from charter services increased by 80% to $882.9 million.
  • Sales for AirBridgeCargo Airlines' scheduled cargo services achieved an increase of 68% to $344.1 million.

Commenting on the Group's nine-month, Alexey Isaikin, President of Volga-Dnepr stated: '"Volga-Dnepr continues to actively promote its growth strategy. Our customers from 150 countries worldwide have demonstrated the long-term demand for our services and this again proves the solid competitive position of Russian AN-124 and IL-76 freighters. In the scheduled cargo market, characterized by extremely high levels of competition from the world's largest operators, the Group has also shown positive dynamics. We have managed to build a strong marketing, operational and financial base and all this, combined with our proven ability to deliver unique logistics solutions, will allow us to take advantage of further development opportunities even in the current challenging economic environment.'

Volga-Dnepr Airlines is the world's leading specialist in the outsize and heavy cargo transportation niche and Russia's largest cargo airline. The Group's core business areas are AN-124-100 and IL-76 charter services (Volga-Dnepr Airlines) and Boeing 747 scheduled cargo operations (AirBridgeCargo Airlines). With an extensive worldwide office network, Volga-Dnepr Group offers its customers a wide range of international logistics services.

The Group's fleet comprises 10 AN-124-100s, 12 IL-76TDs (two of them are modernized IL-76TD-90VD) and 7 Boeing 747F aircraft.

The Group's public and governmental level efforts have resulted in initiation of the AN-124 Resumed Series Production and IL-76 Deep Modification programs. Volga-Dnepr is actively engaged in building Russia's cargo hub system and promotes customs exemptions from import duties on freighter versions of B747 passenger aircraft.