Freighter Joint Venture Ends

Volga-Dnepr Airlines and Antonov Airlines have announced that their An-124 freighter joint venture, Ruslan International, will end on December 31.

The two companies created the offshoot in 2006 to jointly market their combined An-124-100 fleets, with the aim of improving availability of the unique ramp loading cargo aircraft for customers across the globe.  Volga-Dnepr’s business collaboration with Antonov will continue for the technical aspects of airworthiness and flight safety support of its An-124 fleet.

Volga-Dnepr will continue offering customers the unique operating capabilities of the An-124 whenever and wherever they need them. (Volga-Dnepr)

Tatyana Arslanova, Vice President Strategic Management and Charter Cargo Operations of Volga-Dnepr Group commented: “Our joint venture with Antonov Airlines has enjoyed ten fruitful years and during this time we have been able to ensure our global customers have benefited from the unique operating capabilities of the An-124 whenever and wherever they have needed them.  With the world’s largest fleet of the type, Volga-Dnepr is committed to maintaining this capability for our customers with our own services, supported by our worldwide offices.”

Dennis Gliznoutsa, Volga-Dnepr’s Vice President Development and Special Projects added: “We have the advantage of the experience we gained from the end of our An-124 joint venture with HeavyLift Cargo Airlines in 2001, and the subsequent growth of our outsize and heavyweight cargo business in the international market.  We now have an even more diverse and capable product offering for customers under our ‘Cargo Supermarket’ concept, which combines our growing An-124, Il-76TD and Boeing 747 and 737 freighter fleets and logistics services.  We wish to publicly thank Antonov Airlines for their partnership over the last decade and we will continue to collaborate with them in regards of the technical aspects of our An-124 fleet.”