AirBridge Cargo signs interline agreement with Continental
Russia’s AirBridge Cargo, part of the Volga-Dnepr Group, has signed an interline agreement with Continental Airlines and appointed two general sales agency (GSA) partners to promote the anticipated start of its own Boeing 747 freighter services to the United States next year.
“The agreement with Continental Airlines supports the ambitions of both airlines. The U.S. airline has stated its plans to enter the Russian market while AirBridge expects the Houston-based airline to provide an important link into its network, notably for the movement of oil and gas equipment from Texas to Sakhalin Island off the coast of Russia,” AirBridge Cargo said.
In a separate development, AirBridge Cargo has appointed Platinum Air Cargo to act as its general sales agent in Houston, Dallas and Washington, while Heavy-weight Air Express will represent the airline in New York and Chicago.
“It is no secret that AirBridge Cargo plans to commence operations to the United States. This is one of the reasons why we have two new Boeing 747-400ER freighters on order with the first delivery scheduled for 2007. Our interline agreement with EL AL Cargo is already proving very successful and I am confident Continental Airlines will be an excellent partner for us in Houston,” said Stan Wraight, vice president of the Volga-Dnepr Group responsible for scheduled cargo services.
“Both of these interline agreements will continue beyond the introduction of our own services to North America as we consider them to be very complementary to our mutual goals. The appointment of GSAs is another essential step in building AirBridge Cargo’s presence in the United States and will help to improve communication and customer satisfaction straight away through our interline partners and, importantly, for our own flights when they begin next year,” Wraight added.