Russian cargo carrier declares ‘business as usual’

Russia is fighting to keep its freight and trade industries up-to-speed, as political tensions buzz around the Ukraine crisis and the threat of further G7 sanctions against Russia.



But at least one cargo carrier, Moscow’s AirBridgeCargo (ABC), has been reported as enjoying cargo volumes which are unaffected by these threats. It told Lloyds Loading list that there was no sign of reduced trade or of any backlash against Russian companies such as itself.



And that’s a pretty good market indicator as the Russian all-cargo airline claims to have a 50% to 60% share of Russia’s airfreight market.



On the ‘web it is revealed that the carrier’s tonnage carried in the first quarter of this year was up 9%, year-on-year, at 86 500 tonnes. Increased capacity and new routes offered after the arrival of the airline’s fifth B747-8 freighter late last year played their part in this rise, according to ABC.