Russia's Volga-Dnepr Group orders Two Boeing 747-400ER Freighters

Russia's AirBridge Cargo airline, a part of the Volga-Dnepr Group, has ordered two Boeing 747-400ER freighters.

The airplanes, with a list price value of $450 million, are scheduled for delivery in October 2007 and February 2008 and will be powered by General Electric CF6-80C2B5F engines.

"Our partnership with Boeing and the performance of the 747-400ER Freighter are fundamental to achieving our growth plans. The addition of this advanced aircraft to our cargo fleet will allow AirBridge Cargo to take another step in the realization of our ambitious project to develop scheduled cargo flights between Asia and North America via Russia," said Stan Wraight, vice president of Volga-Dnepr Group. "I am sure the development of our intercontinental network with Boeing 747 freighters will assure us a leading position in the global air cargo market."

The 747-400ER Freighter has a maximum takeoff weight of 910,000 pounds (412,775 kg), a maximum payload of 248,600 pounds (112,760 kg) and a maximum range of 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 km). The airplane's distinctive nose door allows increased revenue by accommodating high-value outsize shipments and, with the side door, provides efficiency and flexibility in ground operations.

In 2004 AirBridge Cargo became the first Russian airline to operate a Boeing 747 jetliner. The airplane, a 747-200 Freighter, is used for scheduled cargo flights between Europe and China and Russia's Far East.

AirBridge Cargo was formed in February 2004 by the Volga-Dnepr Group. Currently, the carrier operates a fleet of three Boeing 747-200 freighters on trunk routes and Russian-built cargo planes on regional feeder flights.

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