Atlas Air
Encyclopedia
Atlas Air, Inc. is an American
cargo airline
based in Purchase
, Harrison
, New York
. It operates scheduled freight flights on a wet lease
basis for some of the world's leading airlines, flying to 101 cities in 46 countries. Its crew bases include: Miami International Airport
, New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport
, Los Angeles International Airport
, Anchorage International Airport, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport
, and Huntsville International Airport
. The parent company is Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (AAWW).
aerospace enthusiast Michael Chowdry
, to specialise in the long-term contract outsourcing of its Boeing 747
aircraft. It started operations in 1993 with one Boeing 747
and contracted by China Airlines
. In 1995 Atlas began trading publicly on the NASDAQ
, and in 1997 appeared on the New York Stock Exchange
. An initial public offering of 4 million shares was made in August 1998. In 2001 the airline introduced a new program of leasing and services, based on the Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance(ACMI) model. Under this new program, Atlas Air cargo planes would be available to other airlines for operations such as charter flights. In July 2004 Atlas Air completed its restructuring plan and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Recently, AAWWH announced that DHL
has bought long term rights to carry some of its cargo on Polar's aircraft.
In 2006, Amnesty International released a report on extraordinary rendition
which found that Atlas Air was one of the airlines which was alleged to have be used by the US government for rendering detainees.
In March 2010 Atlas Air was awarded a nine-year contract for the operation of the Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF) 'Dreamlifter' for transporting aircraft parts to Boeing from suppliers around the world. It will commence operation in September 2010.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. wholly owns Atlas Air, Polar Air Cargo
(51%), and a share of Global Supply Systems
(49%). Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings is a public company
with 1725 employees and 630 million USD market capitalization.
The airline was named after Atlas
, a Titan
in Greek mythology, who carried the heavens on his shoulders. Their symbol on the plane's tail is a golden man carrying a golden world.
-- Serviço Aéreo, S.A. (SonAir), acting as agent for the USAEA.
This new service replaced World Airways
in May 2010, and Atlas operates the charter service with two newly customized Boeing 747-400
aircraft provided by SonAir's parent company. The aircraft are layed out to serve 189 passengers and consists of a 3 class configuration First.
The charter service, which has become known as the "Houston Express", includes three dedicated weekly non-stop flights between Houston and Luanda, Angola. While it is not open to the public, it provides USAEA members with a premium non-stop transportation link to support complex long-term projects in the West African energy sector.
. On 17 May, a similar incident occurred; in this case, part of the inboard flaps on the right wing of a Boeing 747 separated from the aircraft. Due to alleged improper maintenance practices, the US Federal Aviation Administration
on 5 May proposed a roughly $500,000 fine against the airline. The airline is fighting the allegations.
Orders:
At list prices, the Boeing 747-8F order is valued at about $3.4 billion. Atlas will begin taking delivery of the airplanes in 2011 and expects all 9 aircraft to be in service by the end of 2012. "With this order, Atlas Air remains the leader in providing the capacity and operational flexibility required by our air cargo customers using the state-of-the art freighter platform," said William J. Flynn, president and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. On September 21, 2011 Atlas Air announced they had cancelled 3 747-8F of the original 12 ordered.
Atlas Air average fleet age is 20.6 years old in November 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cargo airline
Cargo airline
Cargo airlines are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. Some cargo airlines are divisions or subsidiaries of larger passenger airlines.-Logistics:...
based in Purchase
Purchase, New York
Purchase, New York is a hamlet of the town of Harrison, in Westchester County. Its ZIP code is 10577. Its name is derived from Harrison's purchase, for Harrison could have as much land as he could ride in one day...
, Harrison
Harrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It operates scheduled freight flights on a wet lease
Wet lease
Aircraft leases are a number of types of leases used by airlines and other aircraft operators. Airlines lease aircraft from other airlines or leasing companies for two main reasons; to operate aircraft without the financial burden of buying them, and to provide temporary increase in capacity...
basis for some of the world's leading airlines, flying to 101 cities in 46 countries. Its crew bases include: Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
, New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
, Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
, Anchorage International Airport, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is a Class B international airport in Houston, Texas, serving the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Located north of Downtown Houston between Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 59...
, and Huntsville International Airport
Huntsville International Airport
Huntsville International Airport , also known as Carl T. Jones Field, is an airport located 9 miles southwest of the central business district of Huntsville, a city in Madison County, Alabama, United States...
. The parent company is Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (AAWW).
History
The airline was founded in April 1992 by the late Pakistani AmericanPakistani American
A Pakistani American is any citizen or resident of the United States who has Pakistani heritage.- History in the United States :Muslim immigrants from areas that are now part of Pakistan have been migrating to America and first entered the United States as early as the eighteenth century, working...
aerospace enthusiast Michael Chowdry
Michael Chowdry
Michael A. Chowdry was a Pakistani-American businessman who became the founder of American-based cargo carrier Atlas Air in 1992. He made the Forbes 400 list and with a net worth of $920 million, ranked among the richest American businessmen of Pakistani heritage before his death in a plane crash...
, to specialise in the long-term contract outsourcing of its Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
aircraft. It started operations in 1993 with one Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
and contracted by China Airlines
China Airlines
China Airlines is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of Republic of China . Although not directly state-owned, the airline is owned by China Airlines Group, which is owned by the China Aviation Development Foundation...
. In 1995 Atlas began trading publicly on the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
, and in 1997 appeared on the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
. An initial public offering of 4 million shares was made in August 1998. In 2001 the airline introduced a new program of leasing and services, based on the Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance(ACMI) model. Under this new program, Atlas Air cargo planes would be available to other airlines for operations such as charter flights. In July 2004 Atlas Air completed its restructuring plan and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Recently, AAWWH announced that DHL
DHL
DHL Express is a division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post providing international express mail services. DHL is a world market leader in sea and air mail....
has bought long term rights to carry some of its cargo on Polar's aircraft.
In 2006, Amnesty International released a report on extraordinary rendition
Extraordinary rendition
Extraordinary rendition is the abduction and illegal transfer of a person from one nation to another. "Torture by proxy" is used by some critics to describe situations in which the United States and the United Kingdom have transferred suspected terrorists to other countries in order to torture the...
which found that Atlas Air was one of the airlines which was alleged to have be used by the US government for rendering detainees.
In March 2010 Atlas Air was awarded a nine-year contract for the operation of the Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF) 'Dreamlifter' for transporting aircraft parts to Boeing from suppliers around the world. It will commence operation in September 2010.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. wholly owns Atlas Air, Polar Air Cargo
Polar Air Cargo
For the Russian aviation company see: Polar AirlinesPolar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. is an American cargo airline based in Purchase, Harrison, New York, USA. It operates scheduled all-cargo services to North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East...
(51%), and a share of Global Supply Systems
Global Supply Systems
Global Supply Systems is a British cargo airline based at London Stansted Airport. It provides dedicated freighters to airlines on a wet lease basis....
(49%). Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings is a public company
Public company
This is not the same as a Government-owned corporation.A public company or publicly traded company is a limited liability company that offers its securities for sale to the general public, typically through a stock exchange, or through market makers operating in over the counter markets...
with 1725 employees and 630 million USD market capitalization.
The airline was named after Atlas
Atlas (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Atlas was the primordial Titan who supported the heavens. Although associated with various places, he became commonly identified with the Atlas Mountains in north-west Africa...
, a Titan
Titan (mythology)
In Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of powerful deities, descendants of Gaia and Uranus, that ruled during the legendary Golden Age....
in Greek mythology, who carried the heavens on his shoulders. Their symbol on the plane's tail is a golden man carrying a golden world.
Passenger Service
In October 2009, Atlas Air was selected to operate an outsourced premium passenger private charter service for the U.S.-Africa Energy Association (USAEA). The Agreement to operate the charter was reached with SonAirSonair
SonAir Airline Services, S.A. , known as SonAir, is a subsidiary of Sonangol Group, the National Petroleum Company of Angola....
-- Serviço Aéreo, S.A. (SonAir), acting as agent for the USAEA.
This new service replaced World Airways
World Airways
World Airways, Inc. is an American airline headquartered at the HLH Building in Peachtree City, Georgia. For the most part, the company operates non-scheduled services. Its main aircraft and maintenance base is Tampa International Airport.-History:...
in May 2010, and Atlas operates the charter service with two newly customized Boeing 747-400
Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, the 747-400 embodies numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe...
aircraft provided by SonAir's parent company. The aircraft are layed out to serve 189 passengers and consists of a 3 class configuration First.
The charter service, which has become known as the "Houston Express", includes three dedicated weekly non-stop flights between Houston and Luanda, Angola. While it is not open to the public, it provides USAEA members with a premium non-stop transportation link to support complex long-term projects in the West African energy sector.
Safety issues
During early 2010, an Atlas Air aircraft was involved in a safety and maintenance incident. In February, the cover of part of the flap assembly on a Boeing 747 detached from the aircraft, which was in the process of landing in Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. On 17 May, a similar incident occurred; in this case, part of the inboard flaps on the right wing of a Boeing 747 separated from the aircraft. Due to alleged improper maintenance practices, the US Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
on 5 May proposed a roughly $500,000 fine against the airline. The airline is fighting the allegations.
Destinations
Both Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo carry freight worldwide, including destinations throughout Europe for example Frankfurt, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Pacific, as well as Latin America. Specific destinations vary due to changing customer's needs and seasonal air cargo trends.Fleet
The Atlas Air fleet consists of the following aircraft as of November 2011:Orders:
At list prices, the Boeing 747-8F order is valued at about $3.4 billion. Atlas will begin taking delivery of the airplanes in 2011 and expects all 9 aircraft to be in service by the end of 2012. "With this order, Atlas Air remains the leader in providing the capacity and operational flexibility required by our air cargo customers using the state-of-the art freighter platform," said William J. Flynn, president and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. On September 21, 2011 Atlas Air announced they had cancelled 3 747-8F of the original 12 ordered.
Atlas Air average fleet age is 20.6 years old in November 2008.