Parties Say Deal Will Solidify A Long-Term Strategic
Partnership
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings confirmed Friday that its 49%-owned
UK subsidiary, Global Supply Systems Limited (GSS), has signed a
five-year wet leasing agreement with British Airways Plc to operate
three next-generation Boeing 747-8 freighters on behalf of British
Airways starting in 2011.
Under this long-term aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance
(ACMI) outsourcing contract, GSS will provide a turnkey solution
for British Airways’ cargo division, British Airways World
Cargo (BAWC). GSS will lease the 747-8F aircraft that it will
operate for BAWC from AAWW’s Atlas Air unit, which expects to
take delivery of the aircraft from Boeing in early 2011.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings is the only provider of outsourced
aviation solutions to offer customers the new 747-8F aircraft,
which is expected to deliver market-leading performance in terms of
payload, fuel efficiency, total cost per tonne-mile and
environmental compliance.
“BAWC is a vital link in the global logistics chain, and
it will be one of the first air carriers in the world to benefit
from the 747-8F’s leading-edge technology," said William J.
Flynn, President and Chief Executive Officer of AAWW. "Through GSS,
our new aircraft will give BAWC increased capacity and
revenue-generating capability in a growing airfreight market, while
improving fuel economy and providing the lowest tonne-mile costs of
any freighter alternative.”
Steve Gunning, Managing Director of
British Airways World Cargo, said, “The decision to once
again work alongside our long-term freighter partners, GSS and
Atlas Air, to upgrade to the Boeing 747-8 freighter was an
important step by British Airways World Cargo. It is our view that
long-haul freighters form an integral part of our overall business
strategy – providing flexibility and capacity on resilient
and growing lanes – as we strive for continued excellence in
all key areas of the business, including product range, customer
service and, of course, network offering.”
The Boeing 747-8 freighter, which will be 18.3 ft longer than
the 747-400 freighter, is expected to be the largest,
most-efficient, long-haul heavy freighter in the market. With a
maximum structural payload capacity of 154 tons, the 747-8F is
expected to provide 16 percent more revenue cargo volume compared
with the benchmark 747-400F. The additional 4,245 cubic feet of
volume afforded by the longer fuselage offers space for four
additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold
pallets. For maximum speed and efficiency, cargo on the 747-8F can
be loaded and unloaded using both the nose and side doors.
“Our freighter-leasing customers are growth-oriented
market leaders, with a strategic focus on cargo," Flynn added. "The
global scale and scope of our leasing and service solutions enable
our customers to effectively expand their capacity and operations,
and to capitalize on market opportunities around the world without
having to wait for new production freighters to be built or having
to commit their balance sheets to new aircraft purchases. We
anticipate significant growth in our fleet with our new 747-8F
aircraft. Together with our modern 747-400 freighters, our aircraft
anchor a fleet strategy that focuses on our customers and
reinforces our position as the most-advanced, most-efficient, and
most-reliable provider of leased freighter aircraft and outsourced
aircraft operating services and solutions to the global aviation
industry.”
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