Volga-Dnepr Group has confirmed that its Ruslan International An-124-100 joint venture with Antonov Airlines is to end on December 31, 2016.

The two companies created the joint venture in 2006 to jointly market their combined An-124-100 fleets, with the aim of improving availability of the unique ramp loading cargo aircraft for customers all over the world. Volga-Dnepr is a major shareholder in Ruslan International.

As the operator of the world’s largest An-124 fleet, Volga-Dnepr has the full capability to continue to support all existing customer contractual obligations, a company statemetn said. Volga-Dnepr Group’s business collaboration with Antonov will continue for the technical aspects of airworthiness and flight safety support of its An-124-100 fleet.

“Our joint venture with Antonov Airlines has enjoyed 10 fruitful years,” said Tatyana Arslanova, vice president for strategic management and charter cargo operations at Volga-Dnepr Group. “During this time we have been able to ensure our global customers have benefited from the unique operating capabilities of the An-124 whenever and wherever they have needed them. With the world’s largest fleet of An-124 freighters, Volga-Dnepr is committed to maintaining this capability for our customers with our own services, supported by our worldwide offices.”

“We are free to take commercial decisions that are in the best interests of our group and our customers and this represents a new and exciting chapter for Volga-Dnepr Group,” added Dennis Gliznoutsa, vice president for development and special projects at Volga-Dnepr.

“We have the advantage of the experience we gained from the end of our An-124 joint venture with HeavyLift Cargo Airlines in 2001,” he continued, “and the subsequent growth of our outsize and heavyweight cargo business in the international market. We emerged from that JV stronger and now, 15 years later, we will do so again. We now have an even more diverse and capable product offering for our customers under our cargo supermarket concept, which combines our growing An-124, IL-76TD-90VD, Boeing 747, and 737 freighter fleet and logistics services.”