Atlas Air to integrate Southern Air under single AOC

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings’ president and CEO William Flynn has confirmed plans to integrate Southern Air under a single air operator’s certificate (AOC) with Atlas Air. The announcement comes just months after Atlas acquired the Southern’s parent Southern Air Holdings.

Gaining a single AOC from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is expected to take between 12 and 18 months.

Merging the operations has proven a contentious issue, however, as matters including seniority and compensation have pitted pilots against management. Last month, pilots flying for Atlas Air, Southern Air, Polar Air, ABX and Kalitta voted in favor of authorizing their unions to call strike action . However, as Atlas points out, “Under the RLA, there is a defined process that must occur before
a union can strike.”

The Southern Air acquisition was an all-cash, debt-free transaction valued at approximately US$107.5 million. The deal allows Atlas to expand its platform into 777 and 737 operations.