29.01.2008 Aeroflot Cargo flown the first revenue flight on its Boeing 737-300 Freighter Moscow-Manchester-Moscow (RCF-923/924, Captain – Vladimir Zhavoronok).

The airline plans to boost traffic on this route capitalizing on the strengths of Boeing 737-300F. The airplane is also being prepared for commercial flights to Helsinki and Paris in short order. 

January 19, 2008, Moscow. For the first time in history of domestic cargo transport, a Russian airline has begun operation of the Boeing 737-300 Freighter (maximum payload 17 ton, maximum range with full payload 4,600 km (2,483 nm).

Aeroflot Cargo became the first Russian airline to begin operation of the Boeing 737-300 Freighter. January 19, 2007, the first Aeroflot Cargo B737F completed a successful ferry flight Singapore-Bangkok-Delhi-Tashkent-Moscow. The plane landed at Sheremetyevo at 15:05 Moscow time (RCF-8921, VP BCN, Captain – Vladimir Zhavoronok).

The plane will soon enter revenue service to Manchester, Helsinki and Paris. Early in the year, the company expects the second Boeing 737-300F and the first MD-11 which was originally scheduled for delivery in 2007. 

Aeroflot Cargo views Boeing 737-300F as an advanced aircraft type meeting the demands of the cargo market and optimized for cargo operations from Moscow to CIS and non-CIS destinations. Boeing 737-300F will enable the company to significantly expand its network, generate more cargo traffic and bundle commercial mid-range with long-range flights opening new business opportunities both at home and abroad. 

January 10, 2008, Moscow. Aeroflot Cargo has scored major operational and business successes over its debut year in the market. By December 25, 2007, the subsidiary completed 1,912 cargo flights carrying a total of 121, 879 tons of cargo and mail. Steady growth is observed across the key areas of Aeroflot Cargo operations including a 9.0% increase in cargo volume carried on passenger flights of the parent company Aeroflot. In 2007, Aeroflot Cargo:

• was granted authority to operate flights to all destinations which were previously serviced by cargo flights of Aeroflot

• passed accreditation abroad and opened 15 representative offices in Europe, Asia and the US

• began work on joining IATA programs, entered to MITA and  began preparation under the IOSA production safety program

• contracted and is beginning operation of six new MD-11 freighters and two Boeing 737Fs (freighter version). The company also signed an agreement with Ilyushin Finance Co on financial lease of six newly built domestic Il 96-400Ts with deliveries starting in 2008.

• launched scheduled cargo operations within Russia

• established a wide-spanned network of cargo brokers across the globe including major freight forwarders

• won worldwide recognition as the largest and leading Russian cargo operator.

Operational performance of Aeroflot Cargo in November and over 11 months in 2007. Over the first year of operations, the company demonstrated steady growth of key performance indicators. Over 11 months of 2007, cargo volume carried on passenger flights grew by 9.0% year-on-year. Dedicated cargo volume grew by 8.8%, mail volume by 17.2% and volume of Moscow outbound shipments by 7.7.%. These operations brought a 19% revenue increase. Total cargo volume carried by Aeroflot Cargo was 121,879 tons of cargo and mail, 44,971 tons of which were carried by dedicated freighter aircraft and 77,000 by passenger airplanes of the parent company. In November, passenger airplanes carried 8,019 tons of cargo and mail, a 7% increase as compared to November 2006. Operating revenue grew by 27% and revenue rate by 22%. Over the same period, freighter airplanes carried 6,972 tons of cargo, a 19% increase against November 2006. In November, operating revenue on cargo flights was up by 29% and revenue rate by 8%. Total cargo volume carried in November 2007 was 14,991 ton (a 12% increase) and revenue grew by 28%. Unfortunately, cargo volume carried on freighter aircraft over 11 months is generally lower than in 2006 which is explained by gradual handover of four DC 10-40Fs from the parent company to the subsidiary and a delay in deliveries of new freighter planes. 44, 971 tons were carried on freighter aircraft and 77,000 on passenger aircraft flown by the parent company (data for 11 months of 2007).