Volga-Dnepr Airlines and Antonov Airlines are to end their Antonov AN-124-100 joint venture, Ruslan International from 31 December 2016.

The joint venture was founded in 2006 to jointly market the combined AN-124-100 fleets with the aim of improving availability of the aircraft’s unique ramp loading capability.

Volga-Dnepr Group says the business collaboration with Antonov will continue for the technical aspects of airworthiness and flight safety support of the AN-124-100 fleet.

Volga-Dnepr Group vice president strategic management and charter cargo operations, Tatyana Arslanova says: “Our joint venture with Antonov Airlines has enjoyed 10 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.”