Atlas Air orders four more B747-8 freighters

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has announced an incremental order for four B747-8(F)s, which are due to deliver by the end of 2022 and will be the last four B747s to be produced. “The B747-8F is the best and most versatile widebody freighter in the market, and we are excited to bolster our fleet with the acquisition of these four aircraft. Dedicated freighters – like those operated by our Atlas Air (5Y, New York JFK), Polar Air Cargo (PO, New York JFK), and Southern Air (9S, Cincinnati Int’l) subsidiaries – will continue to be in demand as the global airfreight market, particularly the e-commerce and express sectors, continues to grow,” President and Chief Executive John W. Dietrich said. Boeing announced earlier that it would close the B747 production line in 2022. The American cargo holding is currently the largest operator of B747 Family aircraft globally. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Atlas Air operates five B747-400s in passenger configuration and 44 dedicated freighters (including ten -8(F)s, four B747-400(LCF) Dreamlifters, and thirty B747-400(F)s in various variants). Polar Air operates a further five B747-400(FSCD)s. The group’s third subsidiary, Southern Air, does not operate any B747s. In all, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings exclusively operates Boeing aircraft. Currently, UPS Airlines (5X, Louisville Int’l) has outstanding firm orders for eight B747-8(F)s and Volga-Dnepr Airlines (VI, Ulyanovsk Vostochny) for three. There are no remaining unfilled orders for the passenger variant B747-8 or the VIP-configured B747-8(BBJ).