EVERETT, Wash., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE:BA) and AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), part of Volga-Dnepr Group, celebrated today the delivery of the first of five new Boeing 747-8 Freighters to the airline.

"The introduction of the Boeing 747-8F represents a huge commitment to our customers since we are investing in state of the art equipment to further expand our network," said Tatyana Arslanova, executive president of AirBridgeCargo Airlines. "We have a firm belief that our established and new customers will greatly benefit from the additional features the airplane will provide such as enhanced payload. With the introduction of the Boeing 747-8F, we'll have the youngest freighter fleet in the industry while maintaining the highest standards of environmental compliance."

"ABC is a valued customer of Boeing that has built a very successful cargo business with the help of 11 747 Freighters and we're confident ABC will maintain its impressive rate of growth, supported by the new fleet of Boeing 747-8 Freighters," said Marty Bentrott, vice president of Sales for Russia, Central Asia and Middle East, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The new 747-8 Freighter is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.3 m) long, which is 18 feet and 4 inches (5.6 m) longer than its predecessor, the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides customers with 16 percent more revenue cargo volume, which translates to four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets. The 747-8 Freighters are powered with GE's GEnx-2B engines.

The addition of the 747-8 to ABC's fleet is an important step in its long-term business strategy. The second and third Boeing 747-8s will join the fleet in March and September 2012 and the last two aircraft on order are scheduled for delivery in 2013. In addition, ABC has options for five more 747-8s. By the end of 2012, after retiring old aircraft types, ABC's fleet will consist of three Boeing 747-8 Freighters and eight 747-400 Freighters.

Contacts:
Dmitry Krol
Boeing International Corporate Communications
+7 495 797 3415
dmitry.krol@boeing.com

Jim Proulx
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Communications
+1 206-850-2102
jim.proulx@boeing.com

More information: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747family/747-8_background.html

Photo and caption are available here: http://boeing.mediaroom.com

SOURCE Boeing