AirBridgeCargo Launches B747-8 Freighter Flights to Dallas/Fort Worth

Russia’s AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) is expanding its presence in the U.S. market with the launch of Boeing 747-8 freighter flights linking Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) with Amsterdam and Moscow.

New twice-weekly all-cargo flights from Dallas/Fort Worth will operate on Mondays and Thursdays to Amsterdam Schiphol and Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airports.

The airline, part of Volga-Dnepr Group, is also developing its current services to Chicago, introducing direct flights from Frankfurt.

The new routes are part of AirBridgeCargo’s new summer schedule and commence on 31 March 2014.

Denis Ilin, Executive President of AirBridgeCargo Airlines, said, “Chicago has been a very successful route for us since we commenced services on the route in 2012 and the extra B747F flight a week from O’Hare International Airport will provide welcome additional capacity for our customers. Expanding services in the U.S. market is a logical step in the airline’s development and means we can increase our ability to offer fast and efficient freight deliveries for customers doing business in North America, Europe, Asia and Russia.”

ABC started performing flights to/from Chicago in 2012, since then the airline has seen strong demand on this destination, especially from the oil and gas industry which has seen exports grow by 6%. ABC’s overall cargo tonnage to/from the North Americas has grown by 12% and 4% respectively.

“We are pleased to welcome AirBridgeCargo freighter service to Dallas/Fort Worth,” said Luis E. Perez, vice president for air service development at DFW International Airport. “This new added service further demonstrates the strength of the Dallas/Fort Worth market and provides our region's suppliers with additional lift to Europe and beyond.”

AirBridgeCargo’s fleet is one of the youngest in the industry and includes 12 Boeing747: four Boeing 747-400ERF, three B747-400F and five brand new Boeing 747-8F. The average fleet age is about 4 years.