Volga-Dnepr Group and Liege Airport have signed a memorandum of understanding to reinforce their strategic cooperation to set up a regional hub.

The agreement serves as an extension of the memorandum signed last summer between the airport, Volga-Dnepr and CargoLogicAir with the aim of strengthening positions of the three companies in the European market.

The 30 weekly flights operated by Volga-Dnepr and partners until the end of 2020 are to be shouldered by effective ground and cargo handling operations in Liege, with a focus on e-commerce and express shipments.

The next step involves Liege Airport drafting proposals on the airport location of a maintenance hangar to be used as a technical support station to guarantee line maintenance.

Andrey Andreev, vice president for Europe at AirBridgeCargo Airlines says the airline is in the second year of cooperation with significant results and ambitious development plans.

He says: “Not only will the first 12,500 sq m of warehousing premises, which will be operational by the end of this year, facilitate creation of up to 200 working places. But we are moving one step further in creating effective system of regional hubs network to meet the emerging demands of our customers worldwide.”

Steven Verhasselt, vice president commercial at Liege Airport says the partnership was more than an airline flying into an airport.

He says: “The vision, to create real cargo gateways, connecting global markets, supported by airlines, airport, ground handlers and logistics chain, offers the market the solutions it is looking for. The Liege Airport Cargo Community is welcoming the further expansion and the opportunities to connect to the project.”