DHL plans to launch regular cargo flights this month from St. Petersburg to Helsinki in cooperationwith an undisclosed St. Petersburg-based operator under its planned $250 million investment in the
country by 2010, Russian media reported.The Antonov AN-26, a twin-engined light turboprop transport aircraft originally made inUkraine, will effect 5 cargo flights a week. By 2010, the company expects to increase the number ofdomestic flights to seven. The freighter has the capacity to transport about 5 tons of cargo andexpected to fly 2-3 tons per flight initially. If the launch of the new cargo flights turns out tobe profitable, DHL might buy AN-26 from the Russian partner. The value of the freighter isestimated to about €500,000, Adrian Marley, managing director of DHL Russia, said in a statement.
An anonymous Russian expert said: “The profitability of such flights primarily depends on theaircraft effecting the transport. The aircraft has to be economical in terms of fuel usage andneeds to have sufficient cargo capacity at the same time. As for AN-26 – it is an outdated model,but it has proven itself at the distance of 500 km since it doesn’t require any additional fuel andgives the possibility to be fully loaded up to 5 tons.”
DHL has been operating in Russia since 1984. The company has more than 130 offices andagencies and a fleet of more than 550 vehicles in the country.
