PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC
Carrier does not want Boeing 747-400Fs this year and focuses instead on the long term
Atlas Air has reconfirmed plans to defer orders for three Boeing 747-400Fs, scheduled for delivery later this year, but is still showing interest in mid-size freighter capacity. The US cargo wet-lease carrier is also continuing talks with Airbus about operating a freighter version of the ultra-large A380.
"We've several aircraft scheduled for delivery this year and we're in discussions with them [Boeing] about delaying some or all of these aircraft," says Atlas. Specifically, the company does not want three 747-400Fs due for delivery by the end of this year and has been asking Boeing since last year to accept a deferral. There is a fourth aircraft on order for delivery in 2003.
For now, Atlas intends to maintain its fleet of 747-400Fs at 12 aircraft but will add another -400F to the fleet of its recently acquired subsidiary Polar Air. It has another six older 747-200s parked in the desert as a result of the downturn in the freight market, although four were temporarily activated for military charter work last year.
The company's attention instead appears to be focused longer-term on the 150t payload capacity A380-800F, which is due to enter service in 2008 with launch customer FedEx Express. Atlas characterises any plans to order or operate the aircraft as "still in the discussion phase". The carrier is understood to be looking at acquiring as many as five aircraft, according to industry sources.
Long-standing plans to acquire a new fleet of medium-size freighters in the class of the Airbus A300 or Boeing 767 have not moved forward. The carrier says it remains interested in the concept of an inter-hub freighter, but can offer no timetable for a type decision.
Source: Flight International
