Volga-Dnepr Reports Strong Growth in Satellite Business

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has seen a big increase in shipments for the aerospace industry with 22 flights moving space satellites over a 12-week period to the end of May.

One of its latest shipments was the Express AM6 Russian satellite from Krasnoyarsk in Russia to Baikonur, Kazakhstan in preparation for its launch later this year. Volga-Dnepr’s An-124-100 freighter carrying the 25-ton cargo also transported support equipment for the satellite.

The satellite was protected by a high-tech container to ensure and monitor its optimal cleanliness and temperature during the transportation process. The two flights operated in support of this shipment were on behalf of the JSC Information Satellite Systems - Reshetnev Company. Volga-Dnepr has previously delivered the Express AM6 telecommunications satellite from Montreal to Krasnoyarsk.

On 20 May, a further eight satellites were carried on a single IL-76TD-90VD cargo flight from the Czech city of Pardubice to Yasnyi, the Russian spaceport. The satellites, produced in the UK, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and Spain, were delivered on behalf of Air Charter Service, a longstanding customer of Volga-Dnepr.

The satellites are scheduled to be launched onboard a carrier rocket called ‘Dnepr’.

Andrei Rassadkin, Regional Sales Director of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, said, “From March to the end of May we operated 22 satellite flights, including six flights in May carrying a total of 14 satellites. Volga-Dnepr has over 23 years of expertise in meeting the delicate and complex requirements of aerospace customers and we see significant growth potential in the industry based on our track record, client base and the technical expertise and resources we can offer to customers to help them realise their most ambitious plans. Historically, the aerospace industry is one of Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ most important areas of expertise. This industry is fast-growing and dynamic and the manufacture of space satellites is increasing as the number of launches and spaceports being built increases.”