Atlas Air Takes Delivery of Boeing 747-8F

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has taken delivery of the first of nine 747-8 Freighters the company has on order.

Atlas Air's 49% subsidiary, Global Supply Systems (GSS), will operate the new freighter for British Airways World Cargo through a five-year wet-lease agreement.

"We have been looking forward to the delivery of our first 747-8F for a long time, and we are delighted that it is going into service with our valued, long-standing customer, British Airways World Cargo," said William J. Flynn, president and chief executive officer of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

As part of the lease agreement for three 747-8 Freighters with GSS, British Airways World Cargo will utilize the airplanes on long-haul routes to cargo hubs in Asia, Africa, India and the United States.

"The addition of the 747-8 Freighter to the fleet is an important step in our overall long-haul business strategy," said Jude Winstanley, senior vice president for IAG Cargo, comprised of BA World Cargo and Iberia Cargo. "The 747-8 Freighter provides us market-leading performance in terms of payload, fuel efficiency, low tonne-kilometer cost and environmental compliance."

The new 747-8 Freighter is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.3 m) long, which is 18 feet and 4 inches (5.6 m) longer than its predecessor, the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides customers with 16% more revenue cargo volume, which translates to four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets. The 747-8 Freighters will be powered with GE's GEnx-2B engines.

The aircraft will deliver double-digit improvements in fuel burn and lower emissions over the 747-400 will replace.

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