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Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings signed an agreement to operate five 767-200 Freighters for DHL on a CMI (Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) basis. Atlas will operate the freighters, which are owned by DHL, in the integrator’s North American network beginning with one aircraft in the first quarter of 2012, with the remaining four to be added by the third quarter. Atlas said it expected the 767-200Fs to generate a approximately 130 to 150 block hours per aircraft per month. Atlas currently operates eight 747-400Fs for DHL on an ACMI basis through its Polar Air Cargo joint venture (in which DHL is the minority partner — see photo).
Cargo Facts believes, but has not been able to confirm, that the five aircraft which Atlas will operate under the contract are ex-ABX Air units currently in Package Freighter (767-200PC) configuration. They will be converted to large-door full freighter configuration by Bedek Aviation Group and redelivered to DHL/Atlas as the conversions are completed.
We have also seen a report that this contract is the result of DB Schenker’s decision to wind down the BAX Global network and outsource its North American flying to DHL, which has turned to Atlas to operate the aircraft on a CMI basis (DHL, as a foreign company, cannot do its own flying in the US).