Atlas adds second 747-400F to Asiana Cargo ops

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings will operate a second 747-400F for Asiana Cargo, the cargo arm of South Korea-based Asiana Airlines. Operations for this second aircraft build on the trans-Pacific ACMI deal Atlas and Asiana made in February 2017, under which Atlas operates a 747-400F on trans-Pacific routes between South Korea and destinations in the United States.

According to Atlas, like the first ACMI-leased -400F, this second freighter will operate between South Korea and several US destinations. The aircraft is scheduled to enter service this month. Asiana also operates four 747-400 production freighters, seven 747-400BDSFs, and one 767-300ERF.

Carriers have been especially keen to add to their trans-Pacific capacity recently to get ahead of seasonal demand before additional tariffs are imposed between the US and China. In another recent transaction involving an Atlas -400F, Atlas acquired a 747-400F (30609, ex-EVA Air), which will enter service with the Atlas subsidiary carrier Polar Air Cargo, operating on behalf of DHL. This leaves EVA with just three 747-400s, two 747-400BDSFs, and one 747-400F left in its freighter fleet. The last production freighter (30608) is in maintenance and has not flown since 7 August. Cargo Facts believes this aircraft will likely be acquired by Atlas Air as well.

Late last month, we at Cargo Facts took a look at idled 747-400Fs likely to return to service – a couple of which we expect to make their way into the Atlas Air fleet, as Atlas has made a recent push to add to its roster of -400Fs. Another 747-400BCF (26557), owned by Cathay Pacific, is also rumored to be headed for the Atlas fleet after being operated by Air Hong Kong since July 2017.

Learn more about the future of widebody freighters on 10-12 October at Cargo Facts Symposium, where a roundtable panel discussion will be dedicated to the topic. For more information, or to register, visit www.cargofactssymposium.com.