Efforts by Russia’s largest cargo airline AirBridgeCargo Airlines to grow its business in key world markets is paying off after it reported a 17 per cent increase in tonnage carried across its global network in the first half of 2015.
In the six months ended 30 June the carrier transported more than 218,000 tonnes and reports a 22 per cent rise in freight tonne kilometres, achieving a higher than industry average load factor of 67 per cent during the half-year.
The Volga-Dnepr Group company, which operates scheduled cargo services via Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on routes between Russia, Asia, Europe and North America – saw its June tonnage rise 16 per cent year on year, surpassing the growth rate of 11 per cent reported in May.
AirBridgeCargo’s core trade lanes between Europe and China recorded a 26 per cent growth in tonnage eastbound and a six per cent improvement in westbound traffic, maintaining its strong position in both markets despite weakening European imports.
The carrier also expanded its presence on Europe-USA routes with additional Boeing 747 Freighter services from Frankfurt to Chicago. During the first half of 2015 it carried over 6,200 tonnes of cargo westbound between its European and North American gateways. Launch of a Los Angeles service and extra flights from Chicago and Dallas enabled it to reach double-digit growth figures in the US market as well.
AirBridgeCargo executive president, Denis Ilin, says: “AirBridgeCargo is progressively developing as a global air cargo carrier. We expect a stable rather than fantastic peak cargo season and we look forward to our volumes continuing to gain momentum towards the end of the year.”
