Volga-Dnepr Airlines A Global Leader in Air Cargo

Volga-Dnepr Airlines is a global leader in air cargo, with a fleet of over 70 aircraft. The airline's massive cargo capacity makes it a go-to choice for transporting oversized and heavy cargo.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines operates a fleet of Ilyushin Il-76TD-90VD aircraft, which are specifically designed for heavy cargo transport. These aircraft have a maximum takeoff weight of 210 tons and can transport cargo weighing up to 130 tons.

The airline's global reach is made possible by its extensive network of destinations, with flights to over 1,000 airports worldwide. Volga-Dnepr Airlines has a long history of providing air cargo services to the oil and gas industry.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines was created in August 1990 as a joint stock company by major shareholders including Aviastar, Aviant, Antonov Aeronautical Scientific-Technical Complex, and Progress Design Bureau.

The airline started operations in October 1991, carrying a 120-ton cargo from Amsterdam to Almaty.

In April 1995, Volga-Dnepr hosted a meeting of companies involved in the design, manufacturing, and operation of the An-124, creating a Joint Coordination Council to plan and implement improvements.

Volga-Dnepr began scheduled passenger service between Ulyanovsk and Moscow in November 1996, using Yakovlev Yak-40 aircraft.

The airline expanded its scheduled passenger service to include St. Petersburg and Sochi in the following year.

Aviastar sold its 34% holding in the airline to Russian insurance firm NIK in 1999.

In April 2000, Kaskol Group acquired a 16% stake in the airline, later increasing it to 49% before selling it in 2005.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines operates a fleet of An-124 and Il-76 aircraft, which are specifically designed for heavy-lift cargo operations.

These aircraft have a maximum payload capacity of up to 150 tons, making them ideal for transporting oversized and heavy cargo.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has a global network of 14 cargo terminals and 30 sales offices, allowing for efficient and convenient cargo transportation worldwide.

Volga Dnepr Airlines LLC has been part of the Volga Dnepr Group since its inception.

The Volga Dnepr Group's fleet consists of 12 Antonov An-124 type planes, five Boeing 747-8F and five IL-76TD-90VD (IV), which are used for cargo and charter flights.

Volga Dnepr Airlines LLC has significant air operations and carries on business in a sector of strategic significance for the Russian Government, providing transport from third countries of electronics, IT and communication equipment.

The company is responsible for supporting materially actions which undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, according to the primary United States' sanctions list, specially designated nationals (SDN) part.

The Consolidated Screening List (CSL) is a list of parties for which the United States Government maintains restrictions on certain exports, re-exports, or transfers of items, which includes Volga Dnepr Airlines LLC.

Canada also imposes sanctions on Volga Dnepr Airlines LLC under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) and JVCFOA.

Volga-Dnepr operated a small passenger service in the past, connecting Moscow to various destinations along the Volga river.

The airline used its fleet of Yakovlev Yak-40's to offer service to cities like Nizhniy Novgorod, Penza, and Ulyanovsk.

One notable route was the Ulyanovsk-Moscow Vnukovo Airport flight, which was part of the airline's passenger operations in 1996.

Domestic destinations were the primary focus of Volga-Dnepr's passenger service, catering to the needs of travelers within Russia.

The airline's passenger operations were relatively limited, with a small fleet of aircraft used to service these routes.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has a diverse fleet, with the first upgraded Ilyushin Il-76TD-90VD being delivered in June 2006.

This aircraft was specifically designed to comply with Stage IV regulations, enabling it to operate in previously restricted areas such as Europe, North America, Australia, and Japan.

The airline has also placed orders for additional aircraft, including 5 Boeing 747-8F and 29 Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft, although the latter were eventually transferred to AirBridge Cargo.

However, the airline's assets have also been affected by controversy, with the Federal Air Transport Agency and AMTES GmbH issuing an Additional Type Certificate for the An-124-100 aircraft without the approval of Antonov State Enterprise.

This move has raised concerns about the safe operation of the An-124 aircraft, which were extended their airworthiness in a way that bypassed proper procedures.

Volga-Dnepr operates in all sectors of the oil and gas industry, including upstream, midstream, and downstream projects.

The company's fleet, including the An-124-100, Il-76TD-90VD, and Boeing 747 freighters, has revolutionized the logistics market by enabling fast and seamless logistics solutions for complex project shipments.

Volga-Dnepr is now ranked among the top ten air cargo carriers in the world, guaranteeing fast and seamless logistics solutions for your complex project shipments.

The company's unique aircraft fleet has been advancing the world of air logistics for over 28 years, enabling its global customers to achieve fast, secure, and cost-efficient transportation solutions.

Over 28 years of growth and development, Volga-Dnepr Group has attracted a highly-educated and highly-skilled workforce capable of tackling every aspect of the transportation and logistics process.

Here are some key statistics about Volga-Dnepr's operations in the oil and gas industry:

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has a diverse fleet of aircraft, with a total of 17 planes in service as of January 2018. The airline's fleet includes 12 Antonov An-124 aircraft, which is the largest operator of this type of plane.

The An-124 aircraft are used for cargo charter flights to various destinations around the world, including Europe, North America, Australia, and Japan. One of the An-124 aircraft, RA-82078, was seized by the Canadian government, while three others were seized by the German government in Leipzig/Halle.

The airline also operates 5 Ilyushin Il-76TD-90VD aircraft, which are used for cargo charter flights. In 2006, the airline received its first upgraded Il-76TD-90VD, which was fitted with Stage IV compliant PS90 engines.

Here is a breakdown of Volga-Dnepr Airlines' fleet as of January 2018:

In addition to its fleet, Volga-Dnepr Airlines has also invested in new aircraft, including the Boeing 747-8F and the Boeing 777 Freighter. However, it's worth noting that these aircraft were eventually acquired by another airline owned by the Volga-Dnepr Group, AirBridge Cargo.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has had its fair share of challenges and incidents over the years. In 1992, a Volga-Dnepr Antonov 12BK flight was damaged beyond repair after straying off course while trying to circumnavigate a thunderstorm.

The airline has also experienced runway excursions, with notable incidents including a Volga-Dnepr Ilyushin Il-76 that overran the runway on landing in St. John's, Newfoundland in 2012. A tail wind that exceeded the aircraft manufacturer's limitations contributed to this incident.

In recent years, Volga-Dnepr Airlines has faced issues with its An-124 fleet, including a hard landing in 2019 that damaged a General Electric GE9X engine. The airline even grounded its entire fleet of An-124 aircraft in 2020 following an emergency landing at Novosibirsk Airport.

Sanctions have been imposed on Volga-Dnepr by the Canadian government in early 2023. The company was accused of participating in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and servicing the Russian PMC Wagner.

An An-124-100-150 aircraft belonging to Volga-Dnepr was seized at Toronto Airport. The authorities plan to confiscate the plane and transfer it to Ukraine.

In November 2023, Volga-Dnepr sued the Canadian government, claiming the decision was made in error and that the accusations are groundless.

Accidents and incidents can happen to anyone, even in the aviation industry. One notable example is the Volga-Dnepr Antonov 12BK flight that strayed off course in 1992, resulting in eight fatalities.

The incident occurred on 24 July 1992, 26 km southeast of Skopje Airport in Macedonia, where the airplane impacted a mountain near Lisec village. This serves as a reminder of the importance of navigation and weather awareness.

In 2007, an Antonov An-124 Ruslan operated by Volga-Dnepr Airlines failed to stop on runway 03/21 at Gander International Airport in Canada. The incident highlights the need for proper braking and runway management.

Another notable incident occurred in 2012, when a Volga Dnepr Ilyushin Il-76 overran the runway on landing in St. John's, Newfoundland. The occurrence was attributed to a tail wind that exceeded the aircraft manufacturer's limitations.

In 2013, a Volga-Dnepr Antonov An-124 cargo plane collided with a parked Yakovlev 42 at Kazan International Airport. The incident resulted in significant damage to both aircraft.

Here are some notable accidents and incidents involving Volga-Dnepr Airlines:

Volga-Dnepr Airlines is the world leader in oversized and super-heavy cargo transportation, a title it has held for over 29 years. It has a fleet of 12 ramp aircraft An-124-100 Ruslan and 5 modernised Il-76TD-90VD freighters, with sales offices located in different regions of the world.

Volga-Dnepr's services have been in high demand, with over 1,438 flights operated for the oil and gas industry alone, carrying over 94,000 tonnes of cargo. The company has also transported a wide range of unique and complex cargo, including elephants, whales, and even a Japanese Experiment Module for the International Space Station.

Some of Volga-Dnepr's notable missions include transporting equipment for the PNG LNG Project in Papua New Guinea, delivering medical supplies to France during the pandemic, and transporting OneWeb satellites to Kourou, French Guiana.

Volga-Dnepr has transported a wide range of unusual and valuable cargo over the years, including elephants, whales, and even a yacht.

The company's expertise lies in delivering heavy and delicate equipment, as seen in their work on the PNG LNG Project in Papua New Guinea. They designed a new airfield in Komo to handle An-124 flights, which is 3,200 metres long and 45 metres wide.

In 2008, Volga-Dnepr transported Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module for the International Space Station, from Japan to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was a major achievement, as Kibo is the largest single ISS module.

Volga-Dnepr's An-124 cargo planes have also been used to deliver medical supplies to France, with 48 flights completed in partnership with Geodis in July 2020.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines is the world leader in air charter services for oversized and super-heavy cargo.

For over 29 years, the company has been transforming the transport and logistics concept with timely, reliable, and cost-efficient solutions.

Its fleet includes twelve ramp aircraft An-124-100 Ruslan and five modernised Il-76TD-90VD freighters.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines provides services for various industries, including aerospace, oil and gas, automotive, energy, and others.

With sales offices located in different regions of the world, the company offers global reach and flexibility to its customers.