First half cargo tonnage surges at ABC

AirBridgeCargo Airlines reported a 17 percent increase in freight volumes compared with first half 2014 figures.    AirBridgeCargo Airlines increased its airfreight volumes 17 percent to over 218,000 tons in the first six months of 2015 compared with the first half of in 2014.
   In June alone, ABC’s tonnage grew 16 percent compared with the previous year, surpassing the 11 percent year-over-year growth rate reported in May.
   The airline also reported a 22 percent increase in freight-ton-kilometers and a load factor of 67 percent during the period ended June 30, 2015, which was “much higher than the industry average,” ABC said in a statement.
   On ABC’s primary trade lanes between Europe and China, the company increased volumes 26 percent eastbound and 6 percent westbound during the first half of 2015 despite weakening European imports.
   During the first half of the year, ABC commenced additional frequencies and transportation options for customers via the airline’s hub at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, added more Boeing 747 freighter services from Frankfurt to Chicago, and launched new services from Los Angeles.
   ABC transported over 6,200 tons of cargo westbound from European to North America and over 20,280 tons of freight outbound from North America during the period.
   “AirBridgeCargo is progressively developing as a global air cargo carrier and continues to invest heavily in its fleet, human resources and route network development to support its clients’ global supply chains,” ABC Executive President Denis Ilin said of the first half growth. “With the positive response from customers to our existing and new services, stable growth rates, healthy load factors and our client-oriented international team, ABC is very well placed to bring in additional capacity later this year in front of the high season. We expect a stable rather than fantastic peak cargo season and we look forward to our volumes continuing to gain momentum towards the end of the year.”
   AirBridgeCargo currently operates airfreight service to 27 destinations in 14 countries, including over 600 weekly connections via its main hub in Moscow, Russia.