With Russia’s first 777F, AirBridgeCargo is all-747 no more

Russia-based AirBridgeCargo, an affiliate carrier of the Volga-Dnepr Group, began operating a 777F (66625) after Russian regulators cleared the aircraft to fly. [caption id="attachment_415107" align="alignright" width="500"] Unit 66625 is AirBridgeCargo’s first 777F and had been in Sharjah since August. Photo/Volga-Dnepr Group[/caption] The aircraft entered service on Dec. 15, departing Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) bound for Seoul (ICN), returning to Moscow Domodedovo (DME) on Dec. 16, according to Flightradar24. Although Boeing delivered unit 66625 on Aug. 17, regulatory hurdles kept the aircraft from entering service sooner, Volga-Dnepr told Cargo Facts in early August . The 777F had been at Volga-Dnepr’s MRO facility in Sharjah (SHJ) untii Dec. 1. The 777F, like the entirety of AirBridgeCargo’s 747 freighter fleet, is registered in Bermuda. This practice is common for Airbus and Boeing aircraft operated by Russian carriers, particularly those seeking financing outside of Russia. “When international lenders finance an aircraft, the registration jurisdiction must be acceptable to them, yet suitably neutral for the operator,” according to the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority . Unit 66625 is now owned by Dubai-based DAE Capital and leased to Volga-Dnepr group as part of a June 2019 sale-leaseback deal for three 777Fs originally ordered by Volga-Dnepr. While offshore registrations in countries like Bermuda or Ireland are generally recognized by Russian regulator Rosaviatsiya, interruptions related to COVID-19 prolonged the process of clearing service-entry for the first 777F based in the country, a spokesperson for Volga-Dnepr Group told Cargo Facts. The carrier plans to further grow its 777F fleet in the coming years, though it remains in negotiations with Boeing and its aircraft financing and leasing partners after failing to take delivery of a 747-8F earlier this year . Volga-Dnepr was unable to immediately confirm its outstanding order book with Boeing, which still shows Volga-Dnepr UK Ltd’s backlog numbering six 777Fs and three 747-8Fs. Tatyana Arslanova, executive operating officer of the Volga-Dnepr Group, told Cargo Facts in August that orders for both programs were still being disputed and the backlog, “depends on the outcome and solutions.” Sources familiar with 747-8F production believe Boeing has already remarketed the three 747-8Fs originally ordered by Volga-Dnepr Group. In July, Boeing announced 747-8F production would end in 2022. Apart from the 777F, AirBridgeCargo’s fleet currently comprises of thirteen 747-8Fs and four 747-400ERFs.

With Russia’s first 777F, AirBridgeCargo is all-747 no more

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