The Volga-Dnepr Group reported a 49.6% increase in sales revenues for the first nine months of 2007.

With revenues of $720 million in the period, results reflected continued strong growth of the group's AN-124 and IL-76 charter business and Boeing 747 scheduled cargo operations.

"In 2007, we managed to beat the figures of previous years," said Alexey Isaikin, president of Volga-Dnepr Group. "We gained a boost both in our Volga-Dnepr Airlines' charter business and from the scheduled operations of AirBridgeCargo Airlines," he added.

The company's outsize and heavyweight charter business increased sales during the period to $491 million, rising $183 million from the same period in 2006.

During the first nine months of the year, Volga-Dnepr Airlines transported 33,207 tons of cargo on board its AN-124-100 freighter fleet, an increase of 4,823 tons over the same period a year earlier.

AirBridgeCargo continues to expand its route network, said the company. The airline commenced Boeing 747 flights between Moscow, Tokyo, and Krasnoyarsk. The airline received the status of designated carrier from Russia to Japan in 2006. In 2007, Russian and Japanese aviation authorities signed a cooperation agreement awarding AirBridgeCargo traffic rights to increase the number of frequencies to Narita Airportin 2008-2010.

AirBridgeCargo is also continuing to contribute to hub development in Russia.