Atlas Air orders 12 Boeing 747-8 Freighters
Boeing has announced that Atlas Air will be the North American launch customer for the 747-8 Freighter. Atlas has ordered twelve of these aircraft, at a total list price of USD3.4 billion.
Atlas will begin taking delivery of the aircraft in 2010, and expects all twelve to be in service by the end of 2011.
According to Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings president & CEO William Flynn, global air cargo traffic is projected to grow by more than 6% every year for the next two decades, tripling current traffic levels.
“With its increased capacity, greater range at equivalent payloads, and lower operating costs, the 747-8F gives our customers an aircraft to meet this growth in global air cargo demand,” said Flynn.
Scott Carson, president & CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said that Atlas has been instrumental in making the 747 Freighter family the industry standard.
Atlas operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 747 Freighters, with twenty 747-400 and fifteen 747-200 Freighters in service with operators throughout the world.
