Ukrainian justice minister seeks transfer of seized Volga-Dnepr An-124

Ukrainian justice minister Olha Stefanishyna believes Canadian efforts to confiscate a Volga-Dnepr Antonov An-124-150 will result in the heavy transport aircraft being transferred to Ukraine. Stefanishyna said Canadian authorities have "begun the process" of seizing the jet, parked at Toronto Pearson airport, and that "painstaking work" has resulted in legal proceedings "Seizure of the Russian [An-124] was one of my first aims in my first month as minister of justice," she said. "I am convinced that [the aircraft] will soon have a new home, in Ukraine, where it will serve for the benefit of our state." Canada's government has moved to implement commitments to seize and redistribute, assets of individuals sanctioned over the Ukrainian conflict. It initially used the authorisation in December 2022 to restrain financial sums from a company called Granite Capital Holdings, which it believed to be controlled by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich. The An-124 became the second asset to be seized in June 2023. Formerly operated by Russian outsize cargo carrier Volga-Dnepr Group, the aircraft bears the Russian registration RA-82078. Canada's government issued an order in February identifying several parties - including Russia's Sberbank, various Volga-Dnepr entities, and Volga-Dnepr founder Alexei Isaikin - as owners or controllers of the jet. Stefanishyna says Canadian authorities are applying to the Ontario Superior Court to secure the aircraft. "This is another important step on the path to justice and the restoration of peace in Ukraine," she said. "And this is a great example of how international law works in practice." In late 2023, Volga-Dnepr Airlines filed a lawsuit against the Canadian government over the seizure of the aircraft.

Flower frenzy ends on high for LATAM

LATAM Group moved over 25,000 tons of flowers from Colombia and Ecuador during the Mother's Day season in the region, lasting 21 days. This represented a 4% growth in flower volumes compared to the same holiday period last year, said LATAM. Of the total flower volumes transported for the May celebration, around 12,000 tons originated in Ecuador, while more than 13,000 tons were moved from Colombia. "The strong results achieved this Mother's Day season are a clear testimony to the trust our customers place in LATAM," said Claudio Torres Faini, commercial vice president for South America at LATAM Cargo Group. "Our commitment to the floriculture industry and to each of our customers goes beyond the high-demand seasons; we are present throughout the year, ensuring the capacity and excellent service they require for their operations. "We thank them for their trust and will continue driving the development of this key sector for Colombia and Ecuador." To meet demand during the season, LATAM said it increased cargo frequencies from Colombia and Ecuador by 48%. The Mother's Day operation resulted in over 430 departures in just three weeks, of which 231 flights departed from Bogotá and Medellin, and more than 200 originated from Quito, connecting flowers to key markets such as the US and Europe. Carriers also saw high volumes of flowers in February during the global Valentine's Day season.

Emirates SkyCargo adds more 777Fs

Emirates SkyCargo said it has taken delivery of two new Boeing 777 freighters as part of previously announced orders to grow its air cargo capacity. Dubai-based Emirates confirmed the two new 777F aircraft in a LinkedIn post on 5 May. "Emirates SkyCargo has taken delivery of two new Boeing 777F aircraft, enhancing capacity and capabilities to better serve its global customers," said the airline. "Our growing fleet enables us to further expand our freighter network, reaching new destinations such as the recently announced Tokyo Narita and Copenhagen." Air Cargo News (ACN) understands there there are now 12 777Fs in Emirates' fleet, and another 11 777Fs are due to be delivered in line with previously announced orders. There are also currently 10 777-300ER Emirates-owned aircraft due for conversion by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), however, production delays mean the first of the aircraft may not enter service this year. In addition to the 777Fs, Emirates has confirmed it still has six leased 747F aircraft, two of which were delivered in January this year.