AirBridgeCargo tonnage surges 31 percent in May

AirBridgeCargo Airlines carried 50,482 tons for the month and 238,154 tons in the first five months of 2016, both 31 percent increases compared with the same 2015 periods, thanks in part to a rapid network expansion.    AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), the scheduled freight airline of Moscow-based Volga-Dnepr Group, continued to grow its volumes in May.
   ABC carried 50,482 tons for the month and 238,154 tons in the first five months of 2016, both 31 percent increases compared with the same 2015 periods.
   The company attributed the strong growth in cargo volumes primarily to a rapid expansion in its international network. The airfreight carrier introduced flights to new destinations like Houston, Texas and for the first time offered services to the African continent via its partner airline.
   The company has also added its third weekly flights to both Singapore and Munich via its hub at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport.
   “Our figures for May are a good indicator of our performance as they demonstrate that our sales and business forces are targeted in the right direction. Despite flat market conditions and depressive yields, we have seen confident support from our clients and this has bolstered our operations and ensured further growth,” AirBridgeCargo Airlines Executive President Denis Ilin said in a statement.
   “So far 2016 has been both challenging and opportunistic in terms of supporting our existing network and developing new services and destinations,” he added. “Maintaining a consistently high level of service reliability and close communication with clients is our way to successfully address the tough global market.”
   Meanwhile, ABC last week introduced another new destination to its network with the launch of flights to Chongqing, one of the leading commercial centers in China. The new twice-weekly service operates from Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, and will be linked with ABC’s Shanghai (PVG) flights returning to Moscow.
   “With the launch of Chongqing services, ABC’s customers will have access to and from this important Chinese economic area and the guarantee of seamless and reliable connections to consumers in Russia, Europe and the USA via ABC’s international hub in Moscow, which provides numerous connectivity options and delivery solutions,” Robert van de Weg, ABC senior vice president of marketing and sales said.
   “Chongqing is our sixth point in China, which makes our footprint in this country stronger and guarantees the coverage needed to ensure we are meeting our customers’ needs,” he added.
   China was the first country to receive international cargo service from ABC when the company commenced operations in 2004. Starting in Beijing and Shanghai, the company expanded to include Hong Kong in 2006, Zhengzhou in 2010 and Chengdu in 2012.