Fraport Cargo Services (FCS) has presented AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) with its 'Best Cargo Performer 2010' award after the airline increased its freight volume through Frankfurt Airport by nearly 50%.

It is the second year in a row that ABC has been recognized as the leading carrier handled by Fraport in terms of volume. In the first 11 months of 2010, AirBridgeCargo, the scheduled cargo airline of Volga-Dnepr Group, saw its freight tonnage at Frankfurt increase to nearly 103,000 tons compared to just below 70,000 tonnes for the same period of 2009.

ABC has been a customer of Fraport since August 2008. In earning its place as the largest cargo carrier handled at Frankfurt by Fraport, ABC finished the period ahead of other leading airlines such as Air China, Cathay Pacific and Emirates. AirBridgeCargo was also acknowledged by Fraport as achieving the 'Biggest Volume Increase 2010'.

Winfried Hartmann, Managing Director of Fraport Cargo Services, said: 'In a very strong market environment at Frankfurt, AirBridgeCargo has again proved to serve their customers in an outstandingly successful way. For the second year in a row, Fraport Cargo Services as the assigned handling company is delighted to honour AirBridgeCargo overall cargo volume performance for the year 2010 with a 'Bembel', the traditional local apple cider mug. After a very difficult year in 2009 we are very happy that together with ABC we could lay the foundation for such growth. The relationship between Fraport Cargo Services and AirBridgeCargo is a model for partnership and a common perspective for the future.'

Fraport hosts a special reception at Frankfurt Airport every year to recognise the achievements of its best cargo performers.

'This victory became possible thanks to the contribution and great performance of all the regions in the ABC network during this year, which in my mind was even tougher than 2009 given severe competitive. I hope that ABC's second success in a row will set a good tradition for ABC as being ranked the first among cargo carriers,' added ABC's Regional Director, EMEA, Ludwig Hamburger.

ABC operates Boeing 747-400 freighter services linking Frankfurt with Russia, other markets in Europe and China, Hong Kong and Japan.