Atlas forecasts a record year

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US-based ACMI lessor and charter operator ATLAS AIR WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS (AAWW) upped its guidance for full-year 2010 earnings by almost 22%, from $4.35 per share “to exceed $5.30.” The company said that although it expected AMC charter volume and yields to moderate in the second half, this would be more than offset by “continued high aircraft utilization by AAWW’s ACMI customers and robust Commercial Charter demand and yields, driven by the strength in airfreight demand, tight supply of wide-body, long-haul freighter capacity, and reduced market uncertainty.”

In other Atlas news, ATLAS AIR (AAWW’s ACMI leasing subsidiary) entered into an ACMI agreement with TNT AIRWAYS (the air arm of Netherlands-based express giant TNT), under which Atlas will operate a 747-400F between TNT’s Liege hub and Asia. This follows an announcement last week that Switzerland-based forwarder PANALPINA had ACMI-leased a second 747-400F from Atlas. This brings the total number of Atlas 747-400Fs under ACMI contracts to 18. AAWW does not publish a customer list, but Cargo Facts believes the eighteen freighters include six operated for DHL, three each for British Airways, Emirates, and Qantas, two for Panalpina, and one for TNT.