OREANDA-NEWS. On 21 April 2009 was announced, that according to results shown by it in 2008, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, a company of Volga-Dnepr Group, was named the winner of the Wing of Russia National Award as Airline of the Year – Cargo Carrier Operating in Domestic and International Air Lines.

The airline could win the prestigious competition thanks to a balanced development strategy applied throughout Volga-Dnepr Group, which is based on efficient combined use of both charter and scheduled operations. In 2008 AirBridgeCargo Airlines achieved substantial growth in its core operations performance: sales grew by 49% and amounted to 452 million US dollars; freight turnover reached 1,102 thousand FTK's. Major factors of AirBridgeCargo's growth in 2008 were rearranged sales system, to considerably enhance its efficiency, and expanded routing network.

“The key to success for young airline AirBridgeCargo was overall success shown by the whole Volga-Dnepr Group, which is secured through combination of charter and scheduled operations within single business structure,” noted Executive President of AirBridgeCargo Airlines Alexey Isaikin.

Awarding ceremony was held in Moscow Renaissance Hotel. Traditionally, winners were determined by way of secret voting by members of Public Award Board, which comprises more than 120 civil aviation experts, officials of aviation authorities, representatives of state-owned and private companies and mass media agencies.