Volga-Dnepr, Antonov Airlines to start joint AN-124 marketing venture

Volga-Dnepr, Antonov Airlines to start joint AN-124 marketing venture    Volga-Dnepr Airlines and Antonov Airlines, Russian airlines that specializes in heavy-lift and outsize cargoes, will establish a joint marketing venture called Ruslan International to manage their Antonov-124 freighter fleets.
   “The development of Ruslan International is a response by both Antonov Airlines and Volga-Dnepr to ensure that their ad hoc commercial clients continue to receive the high levels of service they have come to expect while also enabling both airlines to maintain efficient pricing based upon aircraft location,” the two airlines said in a joint statement.
   The ownership and shareholdings of Ruslan International is still being decided. Both carriers will contribute to the management of the new company.
   In February, the two airlines established Ruslan Salis to satisfy the requirements for the Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) project, designed for a fast fleet buildup in response to crisis situations across the world.
   “Ruslan International, along with Ruslan Salis, will allow for further economies of scale, including joint pools of spare parts and loading equipment. The initiative will also support the efforts of both companies to restart production of the AN-124 aircraft to ensure the long-term future availability of this unique aircraft in the global market,” Volga-Dnepr and Antonov said.