A Volga-Dnepr subsidiary will soon operate the first of five Boeing 747-8 Freighters after taking delivery of the first aircraft in Everett, Washington.
Moscow-based AirBridgeCargo Airlines said delivery of all five 747-8F will allow the carrier to boast the youngest fleet in the industry.
The 747-8F "will further expand our network," said Tatyana Arslanova, executive president of AirBridgeCargo.
AirBridge Cargo currently operates 11 747 freighters, including eight 747-400s, 2 747-200s and one 747-300. The latter two types will be retired as all five 747-8Fs enter service in 2013, Boeing said.
In addition to the order for five 747-8Fs, AirBridgeCargo also has ordered two Ilyushin IL-96-400s, according to Flightglobal's 2011 World Airlines directory.
The announcement today also marks the first delivery of the 747-8F this year. Boeing has revealed plans to deliver between about 35-42 747-8s, including the passenger-carrying Intercontinental variant, by the end of the year.
The 747-8F adds 5.6m (18ft 4in) to the length of the 747-400, and is powered by General Electric GEnx-2B engines.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
