AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), Russia’s largest scheduled cargo carrier, transported 92,000 tons of cargo in the 3rd quarter of 2013 across its network linking Europe, Asia, Russia and North America, a 3% increase compared to the same period of 2012. Average load factors were also higher, up 2% to 72%.
Available Freight Ton Kilometres and Freight Ton Kilometres for the three month period rose 15% and 18% respectively.
In September 2013 the airline transported 31,000 tons of cargo, a 2% rise over the same period of 2012. Commercial payload remained consistent with the September 2012 level at an average of 71%.
AirBridgeCargo is also seeing the benefit of its 2013 campaign to develop import traffic into Russia. For the three months of July, August and September 2013, ABC’s import volumes into Russia climbed 13% to 24,000 tons. This result made Q3 the best quarter of the year so far for imports carried by the airline. Strong inbound growth generated on its main routes meant imports accounted for 26% of ABC’s total cargo volume over this reporting period.
In terms of service levels, ABC’s punctuality indicator in the 3rd quarter stood at 82%, its flight regularity indicator was 99%, while delivered as promised performance was 73%.
During the 3rd quarter, ABC took delivery of its fourth new generation Boeing 747-8F. Its fleet now consists of 11 freighters; four Boeing 747-8F, four Boeing 747-400ERF, and three Boeing 747-400F.
Commenting on the latest operating results, Denis Ilin, ABC’s Executive President, said: “In the 3rd quarter we continued moving forward and have shown positive development results on our key operational performance indicators, which reconfirms the progress and value of our long-term strategy to improve the quality of our product and operational efficiency.”
