Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo parent group maps out plan to order Boeing 747-8Fs for its fleet renewal
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, parent of US cargo carriers Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, is poised to conclude a deal for up to 12 Boeing 747-8 Freighters as it begins a major fleet-renewal programme.
The company confirms that it expects to announce a deal shortly for next-generation freighters, but declines to identify the aircraft selected. However, according to industry sources, the all-747 operator has selected the 747-8F and is in final negotiations for a 12-aircraft order. “We can’t comment on speculation like that,” says the airline. Boeing declines to comment.
In a statement accompanying Atlas’s financial results for the three months ending on 30 June, president and chief executive William Flynn says: “We believe that we will provide a more compelling value proposition to our customers with leading-edge freighter aircraft that possess better reliability, range, capacity and fuel efficiency, and improve our commercial-risk profile.”
According to Flight’s ACAS database, Atlas Air and Polar operate 38 747s between them, comprising 21 747 Classics and 17 747-400s. Under the fleet restructuring plan, Atlas Air and Polar have phased out seven older 747s, says Flynn. “Our next step will be a significant investment in next-generation freighter technology, which we hope to announce shortly,” he adds.
Meanwhile, specialist freighter lessor Guggenheim Aviation Partners is understood to be considering a deal with Boeing for a package of 747-8Fs and 777 Freighters, as well as an order for Airbus A330-200 Freighters. The company declines to comment.