Volga-Dnepr adds 777 to Boeing freighter suite

This newly built 777 freighter joined the Volga-Dnepr Group fleet this week, departing Paine Field in Everett, Washington. (Photo: Boeing)

Russian airline AirBridgeCargo (ABC), a subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr Group, took delivery this week of its first purpose-built Boeing 777 freighter. 

The plane is a small, but welcome, addition of freighter capacity to a transport market characterized by limited supply because of the withdrawal of passenger flights due to the coronavirus. 

Volga-Dnepr will operate the aircraft through a sale-leaseback agreement with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, a large lessor of 777 freighters, Boeing announced. In 2018, Volga-Dnepr signed a letter of intent to purchase 29 Boeing 777s.

Volga-Dnepr is among the world’s largest Boeing freighter operators, flying 17 747 freighters and five 737 freighters, including 13 747-8F, four 747-400ERF, two 737-800BCF and three 737-400SF types.

The 777 freighter has a cargo payload of 112 tons and has surpassed the 747-400 in fuel efficiency and carrying capacity.

Boeing (NYSE: BA) has received 231 orders since it began making the 777 freighter in 2005. Volga-Dnepr is the 19th airline to use the twin-engine freighter.

In related news, Volga-Dnepr this week completed a 30-ton shipment of electric power-generating equipment from India to Vietnam for a 450-megawatt solar power plant.

The cargo was transported on board one of the airline’s heavy-duty Antonov AN-124 freighters, which was chartered by Bee Logistics Corp. on behalf of Advanced Information Technologies Corp.

Related News:

Russian airlines expand 737 freighter services

Russian airline completes massive airlift of medical supplies for France

GECAS readies 777-300 freighter conversion program

Click for more FreightWaves/American Shipper articles by Chris Gillis.

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Chris Gillis

Located in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris Gillis primarily reports on regulatory and legislative topics that impact cross-border trade. He joined American Shipper in 1994, shortly after graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., with a degree in international business and economics.