Russian freight carrier AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), the scheduled division of the Volga-Dnepr Group, is to offer flights to Chicago, its first destination in North America. The carrier will provide three flights per week to the city from its Moscow Sheremetyevo hub, via Amsterdam Schiphol. These will be operated using a Boeing 747-400F freighter with more than 100 tonnes of cargo capacity per flight.
The company says it selected ‘the windy city’ as its first scheduled US destination as “Chicago is the biggest transport hub” in the United States and is “conveniently situated” at the intersection of major international air cargo routes.
“The addition of North America to our growing international network is another key milestone in the history of our company,” said Tatyana Arslanova, Executive President, ABC. “As such an important market, the USA has always been on our strategic radar screen as we have increased our aircraft fleet and capability and we are extremely confident it will reinforce our position as a strong, international scheduled cargo airline.”
ABC’s network currently covers major markets in Asia (China, Japan and Korea), Europe (the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) and now North America (Chicago, USA). All flights are operated via ABC’s hubs at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo airports.