AirBridgeCargo


AirBridgeCargo Airlines, LLC, part of Volga-Dnepr Group, was the largest Russian cargo airline, with its head office in Moscow. It operated scheduled cargo services on routes between Russia, Asia, Europe and North America, covering more than 30 destinations worldwide. All flights connected to their hub at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow and Krasnoyarsk. It was forced to suspend all operations in the wake of sanctions against Russia as of March 2022.

History

The company entered the scheduled cargo market on 1 April 2004, when the first AirBridgeCargo branded Boeing 747 made its inaugural commercial flight on route from Beijing to Luxembourg.
As of March 2022, AirBridgeCargo was forced to suspend all operations due to sanctions against Russia which rendered the entire fleet unusable. In July 2022, the airline announced it would comply with sanctions and prepare to return 14 leased aircraft - which made up the majority of its fleet - to its lessors.
In March 2023, it became known that the company planned to resume flights using Ilyushin Il-96 aircraft. Volga-Dnepr had begun searching for pilots with appropriate training. However, by late 2023 these plans were abandoned, with two Il-96 formerly stored and already prepared for AirBridgeCargo being delivered to Sky Gates Airlines instead.

Destinations

Prior to the suspension of all services, ABC had been present in Asia, Europe and North America. It operates a scheduled freighter route network of 37 destinations as of November 2019, focused on Europe, Asia and the United States.
CountryCityAirportNotes
BelgiumLiègeLiège Airport
ChinaBeijingBeijing Capital International Airport
ChinaShanghaiShanghai Pudong International Airport
ChinaShenzhenShenzhen Bao'an International Airport
ChinaZhengzhouZhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
GermanyFrankfurtFrankfurt Airport
GermanyLeipzigLeipzig/Halle Airport
Hong KongChek Lap KokHong Kong International Airport
IndiaMumbaiChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
IndonesiaJakartaSoekarno–Hatta International Airport
ItalyMilanMilan Malpensa Airport
JapanTokyoNarita International Airport
KazakhstanKaragandaSary-Arka Airport
NetherlandsAmsterdamAmsterdam Airport Schiphol
NorwayOsloOslo Airport
RussiaEkaterinburgKoltsovo International Airport
RussiaKazanKazan International Airport
RussiaKrasnoyarskKrasnoyarsk International Airport
RussiaMoscowMoscow Domodedovo Airport
RussiaMoscowSheremetyevo International Airport
SingaporeSingaporeChangi Airport
South KoreaSeoulIncheon International Airport
SpainMadridAdolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
SpainZaragozaZaragoza Airport
ThailandBangkokSuvarnabhumi Airport
TurkeyIstanbulIstanbul Airport
United Arab EmiratesDubaiDubai International Airport
United KingdomLondonHeathrow Airport
United StatesAnchorageTed Stevens Anchorage International Airport
United StatesAtlantaHartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
United StatesChicagoO'Hare International Airport
United States---

Fleet

As of March 2024, AirBridgeCargo currently no longer operates any aircraft after returning their fleet to its lessors. AirBridgeCargo formerly operated the following aircraft:
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Boeing 737-400SF120152017
Boeing 747-200F520042012
Boeing 747-300SF120052012
Boeing 747-400F1220072022
Boeing 747-8F1320102024
Boeing 777F120202022

Accidents and incidents

  • On September 11, 2012, an AirBridgeCargo Boeing 747-8F experienced a major engine malfunction that spread a significant amount of metallic debris on the runway. Like in a similar event during pre-flight taxi tests, the low pressure turbine shaft separated and moved the low pressure turbine backwards braking on surrounding hardware.
  • On July 31, 2013, an AirBridgeCargo Boeing 747-8F experienced core engine icing that caused engine malfunctions and damage to three engines near Chengdu, China, while en route to Hong Kong; the aircraft landed safely at its destination. Boeing and General Electric would later work on software changes to mitigate the effects of core engine icing.