The new Malmo service to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport will be in addition to the existing weekend Boeing 737 freighter flight operated by Atran Cargo Airlines, also part of Volga-Dnepr Group. ABC’s B747 all-cargo flight between the two cities will operate every Friday.

"The expansion of our services to and from Scandinavia means we can offer customers additional capacity and the ability to connect via Moscow to our network in North America and Asia,” said ABC’s Henk-Jan van Keulen, who is responsible for Business Development in Europe. He said the airline is also confident of generating strong inbound support on the route, particularly from China.

ABC will also launch a weekly B747 freighter service from Leipzig, extending the Group’s strong association with the airport. Volga-Dnepr Group has a strong presence in Leipzig, where it has invested in a modern aircraft maintenance and repair facility to serve a variety of aircraft types (Boeing 747-200/300/400/8 (CF-50/80, PW4000). AirBridgeCargo’s Tuesday service will also help customers connect with its freighter network to major cities in the Far East.

"Adding Leipzig to our growing network underlines ABC’s commitment to the airport and recognizes its potential as a major airfreight hub in Eastern Europe," said Andrey Andreev, Head of Business Development in Germany and Eastern Europe.

Denis Ilin, Executive President of AirBridgeCargo, said: “These new services to Malmo and Leipzig will strengthen our position in the European market and allow us to offer our customers an enhanced choice of reliable air cargo services. We are also looking at other new routes to increase our network into and out of Europe."