MOSCOW, RUSSIA — Russia's biggest cargo operator Volga-Dnepr Group announced that it has suspended all its operations with Boeing freighters as of March 18 due to Western sanctions.


Sanctions have cut off the supply of most aircraft and parts to Russia. The United States and Europe have closed their airspace to Russian airlines, and Moscow has responded by imposing the same measure on them.

Volga-Dnepr said in a statement it had stopped operations of two of its subsidaries, AirBridgeCargo and Atran due to a decision by Bermuda's Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) to terminate their safety certificates.

AirBridgeCargo and Atran were conducting their operations with 18 Boeing 747 and 6 Boeing 737 freighter jets.

"The management of Volga Dnepr has made a conscious decision to find a possible solution together with partners and state regulators," the company said in a statement.

Volga-Dnepr is the world's number one carrier in the oversize and heavy cargo market. The company now continues its operations with Russian-made An-124 and Il-76 cargo jets.