The new flights, which also provides convenient connection to the Europe’s prime gateway of Frankfurt, Germany, have been welcomed by freight forwarders and shippers.

The two airlines operated their first joint Boeing 747 freighter service to and from Nagoya on January 14th 2006. Under the terms of their initial agreement, ABC and NCA will share capacity on two flights per week ex Japan to Amsterdam via AirBridge Cargo’s new hub in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, with same aircraft connections to and from Frankfurt. The co-operation agreement also extends to Narita services operated by NCA, allowing ABC customers to access this market as well.

Commenting on the launch of the new route, Stan Wraight, Vice President of ABC’s parent Volga-Dnepr Group, said: “There is already a strong flow of trade between the two countries but with Russia’s growing economy this is set to increase considerably. Reliable air cargo capacity stimulates trade between countries and we are confident our joint venture with Nippon Cargo Airlines will have the same effect. There is certainly strong demand from our forwarding partners for these flights. In addition, NCA’s extensive intra Asian network to and from Nagoya will extend the possibilities for maindeck capacity urgently required to serve the oil and gas industry and other major industries in the Krasnoyarsk region, such as the Sakhalin Islands.

“We couldn’t ask for a more professional and committed partner in Japan than NCA. I see this first route as the start of an exciting, long-term business partnership between our two companies with the mutual desire to expand relations rapidly in 2006.”

Nippon Cargo Airlines has been appointed at ABC’s general sales agent in Japan.