newstodate.aero

Mar 29, 2023 (newstodate): Before the sanctions hit Russia's aviation industry, the Volga-Dnepr Group's AirBridgeCargo reigned supreme in the industry, lifting some 42 percent of all cargo carried by Russian airlines.
   But since February 2022, ABC has been grounded as its fleet comprised only sanctioned western-built aircraft totaling 16 units - three Boeing 747-400F, 12 Boeing 747-8F and one Boeing 777F.
   Now, AirBridgeCargo is mulling plans for a return to the skies, but with Russian-built IL-96-400T freighter aircraft.
   In July 2023, Russia announced intentions to restore the airworthiness of a batch of 11 decommissioned aircraft including one Antonov An-124, two Ilyushin Il-96-400T and eight Tupolev Tu-204/214 aircraft parked at various Russian airports.
   The An-124 will presumably go to Volga-Dnepr Airlines, and the two IL-96-400T will be returned to services with AirBridgeCargo.
   To date, 30 Il-96 aircraft of various variants have been built since it went into service as a long haul passenger aircraft with Aeroflot in 1992.