All:
Here's some interesting news:
Atlas( Atlas Air Holdings Inc ) eyes new 747-400 freighters -Flight
LONDON, April 16 (Reuter) - The U.S. based Atlas Air Holdings Inc is close to deciding whether to order a fleet of new
Boeing( Boeing Co ) 747-400 freighters, Flight International said in its latest issue.
It did not detail the size of the proposed fleet.
Atlas is the world's largest operator of converted Boeing 747-200 freighters with 19 aircraft which are wet-leased to top air
cargo operators including Lufthansa Cargo LHAG.F , British Airways Plc BAY.L , KLM Royal Dutch Airlines NV KLM.AS
, Cargolux [CLUX.CN ] and China Airlines 2610.TW .
Under the wet-leasing agreement, the cost of aircraft,crew, maintenance and insurance are charged by Atlas to the companies
using the freighters.
In an interview with Flight, Atlas chairman Michael Chowdry said the move is "seen as the next step" for the carrier.
"There are some routes, such as transpacific, where the 747-400 freighter's economics make it compare favourably against the
747-200 freighter and we have already begun talking with out established and potential customers about this," said Chowdry.
The deal will depend on proving that the costs benefits of the 400F with higher payloads and longer, "will work against the
200F economics," said Chowdry.
He added: "We are beginning to think it can." Financing of $400 million is available and Atlas can access more funding if
necessary, he said.
-- Reuters Air Cargo Newsroom Tel+44 171 542-7706 Fax+5017 |
