Russian outsize freight specialist Volga-Dnepr Group is reportedly the target of a planned acquisition by the former chief of carrier Red Wings and Moscow Zhukovsky airport.
According to Russian business newspaper Kommersant, Evgeny Solodilin intends to purchase the company’s three airlines – Volga-Dnepr, AirBridgeCargo and Atran – through the Evraz Avis Service firm.
Solodilin’s plan includes restructuring the Volga-Dnepr Group debt and returning its Boeing 747-8Fs – which had been operated by AirBridgeCargo – to their lessors.
Volga-Dnepr Group had specialised in heavy freight transport with a fleet of Antonov An-124s and Ilyushin Il-76s.
International sanctions mean several aircraft, notably An-124s, are stranded outside of Russia, and Solodilin aims to arrange for their return, while expanding capacity with Russian-built models.
