Atran expands fleet again with first B737-800BCF
20 / 03 / 2019
Atran B737-800BCF behind a B737-400BCF
Atran Airlines has enlarged its fleet with the delivery of the first Boeing B737-800BCF, increasing its total number of freighters to five.
Having successfully completed certification of the Boeing 737-800BCF in Russia, the Volga-Dnepr Group airline will be the first to operate this type of freighter. It is the second freighter added to the airline’s fleet this year – it added a B737-400BCF in January.
Customers will benefit from “its enhanced operational capabilities and more solutions for cargo deliveries”.
The freighter has already operated its first flights from Moscow (Vnukovo) to Norilsk and Yakutsk, carrying consumer goods for the population of the Siberian and Far Eastern parts of Russia, including perishables, general cargo and e-commerce shipments.
Dmitry Obsharov, general director for Atran Airlines, said: “We are delighted to have this new type of aircraft in our fleet. As the upgraded version of the Boeing 737, the airplane has more technical and operational capabilities.
“This allows us to offer more maindeck cargo capacity thanks to the aircraft’s extended fuselage, which is 6 m longer and broader, increasing the solutions we can offer for the transportation of various types of shipments, including oversized freight which can be loaded through the wider maindeck cargo door.
“We are confident that this new aircraft type we will be able to guarantee high-service quality for our customers, leveraging trade flows in the markets we serve, with a special focus on China-Russia routes and the emerging volumes of cross-border e-commerce and mail shipments. It will also help to increase aircraft utilisation within our existing network.”
In addition to accommodating 11 standard aviation pallets (2235×3175 mm) and containers in the cargo compartment, the Boeing 737-800BCF incorporates a reconfigurable cargo handling system which can be easily adjusted for various types of ULDs.
“Its advanced technical characteristics, together with ICAO Stage 4 noise certification, make it an ideal aircraft for European short and medium-haul cargo operations, enabling easy and seamless deliveries of express and mail consignments,” Atran added.
The Boeing 737-800BCF is a newcomer to Volga-Dnepr Group and complements its existing fleet of An-124-100, Il-76TD-90VD, Boeing 747F and Boeing 737-400Fs.
