Volga-Dnepr's new generation IL-76TD-90VD freighter has successfully completed its first commercial flight to and from the United States following the ICAO noise-restriction ban placed on older versions in 2000.

The first flight to the US departed Kazan airport in Russia on February 9, 2007. Chartered by a Russian oil company, the aircraft landed at Detroit a day later with shipments of raw oil samples. From Metropolitan Airport in Detroit, the IL-76TD-90VD then flew to Baghdad, with a shipment for another US customer.

Volga-Dnepr Group initiated the project to upgrade the IL-76 in order to meet current and future ICAO requirements. Volga-Dnepr took delivery of its first new IL-76TD-90VD in June 2006 and a second aircraft of the same type will join its fleet later this year.

"The first two charters involving landing and taking off in the United States were a milestone for the aircraft and our company's strategic development," said Andrey Pakhomov, Director General of Volga-Dnepr Leasing.