Russian cargo group Volga-Dnepr has released over 200 Boeing pilots as it moves away from foreign-made aircraft. The pilots flew for two of Volga-Dnepr's subsidiaries - AirBridgeCargo and Atran.

Volga-Dnepr fires 200+ Boeing pilots

As international sanctions remain in place, Volga-Dnepr Group has laid off over 200 pilots responsible for operating the group's Boeing aircraft.

The Russian-owned cargo operator can no longer maintain Western-made aircraft and has seen its international operations severely limited due to the ongoing sanctions.

GettyImages-1227983939
Volga-Dnepr Group's entire Boeing fleet was grounded in March. Photo: Getty Images

The pilots were employed at two of the cargo group's subsidiary airlines - AirBridgeCargo and Atran - which operated Boeing 737, Boeing 747, and Boeing 777 freighters.

A Volga-Dnepr representative told RBC,

"The company's resources are not unlimited. Optimization of the number [of staff] is a necessary measure. It is being carried out in stages in order to be able to mothball the fleet."

According to RBC, the pilots received their employment termination notices in July. Volga-Dnepr will retain a small number of its Boeing crew in case the carrier gets the go-ahead from the Russian Ministry of Transport to return its remaining Boeing jets to lessors.

Removing all foreign aircraft

Volga-Dnepr Group is still eager to return its leased Boeing aircraft to their owners after suspending most of its operations in the wake of the Ukraine conflict.

Russian airlines have asked to return planes to lessors as sanctions prevent them from obtaining spare parts or receiving technical support for foreign-made aircraft, essentially rendering the aircraft inoperable long-term.

The airline submitted a request to Russia's Ministry of Transport around three months ago but has yet to receive a response.

ATRAN-Aviatrans_VP-BCJ_Boeing_737-46Q_SF_(25866281495)
The cargo carrier will now operate with Antonov and Ilyushin aircraft. Photo: Anna Zvereva via Wikimedia Commons

The majority of Volga-Dnepr's cargo operations were international, meaning that business was hit severely as countries shut their airspace to Russian-owned airlines. By mid-March, subsidiaries AirBridgeCargo and Atran had stopped flying and all their Boeing aircraft were grounded.

AirBridgeCargo, which had four Boeing 747-400, 13 Boeing 747-8F, and one Boeing 777-200F to start the year, managed to return a Boeing 747-8F to BOC Aviation in March and wants to get rid of 14 of its remaining 16 747's currently parked at Moscow Sheremetyevo.

Discover more aviation news with Simple Flying.

Upcoming plans

The Russian cargo group had hoped to work around Western sanctions by establishing a new enterprise in the Middle East in partnership with Etihad Airways. However, the legal ramifications of such as move dissuaded Etihad from pursuing it further.

Volga-Dnepr will now rely on locally-made aircraft, such as the Antonov An-124 and Ilyushin Il-76. The carrier currently has three An-124 and four Il-76 aircraft, with a further nine An-124s grounded due to ongoing legal battles.

What are your thoughts on Volga-Dnepr's decision to get rid of its Boeing pilots? Let us know your insights in the comments.

Source: RBC