New York-based cargo airline Atlas Air has signed for four Boeing 777 Freighters, enlarging its fleet to 18 examples.
The order, which was placed last December, is the first direct purchase of the type by the carrier, whose existing nine-strong fleet comprises leased airframes.
John Dietrich, Atlas Air Worldwide president and CEO, commented: “We are excited to expand our fleet and service offerings for our existing and prospective customers with these four new 777s. With the best team in the industry as well as our focus on innovation and prudent fleet management, Atlas is serving the evolving needs of the global supply chain and delivering value for our customers.”
The deal rounded off a successful year for the American manufacturer’s freighter family which has been a bright spot for the company while it has battled with 777X certification delays and global 737 MAX recertification efforts.
"We are honoured that Atlas Air Worldwide, as a global leader in airfreight, has once again selected to grow with Boeing and our freighter family. These new 777 Freighters provide Atlas with more capacity, fuel efficiency and operational flexibility for its customers," said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing. "As air cargo demand continues to grow, we're confident that the efficiency, capability and flexibility of our freighter family will meet customer needs now and in the future.”
In November, Boeing had surpassed the previous freighter record including 80 orders for new production freighters and more than 80 orders for converted models. The company is expected to announce full-year 2021 commitments and deliveries next week.
With an all-Boeing fleet, Atlas Air currently operates eight 737-800s (all leased from and flown for Amazon Prime Air), 41 747-400s (including four Dreamlifters leased from and operated for Boeing), four 747-8s and nine 777Fs (six of which are leased from and flown for DHL).
