Airbridge receives Canada AOC

AIRBRIDGE Cargo Airlines has been awarded an Air Operator’s Certificate by Transport Canada, the Canadian government department responsible for developing transportation regulations, policies and services.

Canada requires foreign airlines to obtain its own national AOC, which attests to the airline’s competence regarding its ability to conduct a safe operation and clearly defines who is in charge of its safety program and policy. This is the first step towards any airline gaining permission to operate to and from Canada.

As part of the evaluation process, ABC – part of Volga-Dnepr Group – had to demonstrate that its business processes met the requirements of the Chicago Civil Aviation Convention as well as a number of specific requirements of Transport Canada. Representatives of the government department also conducted a full-scale operational audit during their visit at the ABC’s Moscow headquarters earlier this year.

Denis Ilyin, senior vice-president, strategy and commercial at ABC, said: “This important achievement is yet another endorsement of the progress AirBridgeCargo has made since its launch in 2004 and highlights our proven operating record. It also gives us the ability to apply to fly to and from Canada in the future.”