The Russian airline Volga-Dnepr completed a pioneer cargo flight along a Moscow–Delhi (India)–Dhaka (Bangladesh)–Moscow route, conducted under a formal agreement with the Moscow government. The Il-76 touched down at Sheremetyevo Airport, where cargo handling is managed by the Moscow Cargo terminal, as reported by the city’s Transport and Road Infrastructure Development Ministry via its official Telegram channel.
Deptrans confirms the aircraft carried 18 tons of Russian metal structures to South Asia and returned to Moscow with 23 tons of children’s and sports equipment, textiles, and footwear.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin signed a cooperative agreement with Volga-Dnepr through the Commission for the Improvement of the Stability of the Economy. The pact aims to secure steady and rapid freight transport between Moscow, other Russian cities, and international destinations. It is designed to preserve flight volumes, renew the fleet, and maintain employment, including Russian pilots. Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor for Transport, noted that this agreement enables Moscow-based companies to reliably procure goods abroad from the nation’s largest air freight carrier. He estimated the transportation order volume from Moscow at about 9.5 billion rubles. Fyodor Novikov, general manager of Volga-Dnepr Moscow, added that maintaining current logistics chains is essential while also building new transport corridors to ensure stable supplies of socially important goods. He stressed the company’s readiness to broaden flight geography and expand the range of commodities to keep Moscow residents supplied. By the end of 2022, Volga-Dnepr aims to deliver around 20 thousand tons of various cargoes to the capital using its aircraft.
The initiative comes as part of a broader push to enhance air freight resilience and regional connectivity. The efforts are framed as supporting local industries, enabling faster imports of essential materials, and facilitating export opportunities for Russian producers. The collaboration underscores Moscow’s ambition to strengthen non-stop freight options and sustain critical supply chains for residents and businesses alike.
- In related developments, a domestically developed drone is being prepared to operate in emergencies and to support last-mile deliveries, including medicines and people.
- Further information can be accessed through the city’s official communications channels as part of ongoing transportation updates.