Logistics company Atlas Air has ordered three Boeing 747-8 freighter aircraft as it expands its fleet to meet the growing global demand for air cargo transport.
The planes have been ordered through a long-term finance lease agreement with BOC Aviation and will add to Atlas Air’s position as the largest operator of 747 freighters in the industry with 65 of the model in its managed fleet.
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Atlas Air Worldwide CEO Michael Steen said: “Demand remains strong for dedicated large widebody freighters, and with our robust pipeline, we will place these planes with customers under attractive long-term agreements.
“Through our ongoing investments in innovation and our fleet, we continue to create additional operational flexibility, providing world-class service and acting as a trusted partner to our customers.”
The 747-8F is one of the largest air freighters on the market and offers a 20% larger payload compared to the 747-400F, while also reducing fuel consumption by 16% to support the industry’s emissions reduction ambitions.
Atlas Air’s order comes amid a period of sustained growth for the air cargo sector, driven by the rise in international e-commerce shipping activity that kicked off during the pandemic.
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By GlobalDataAccording to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air cargo demand has risen for seven consecutive months in 2024, with the most recent figures showing a 14.1% increase in cargo tonne-kilometres compared to June 2023.
Steven Townend, CEO of BOC Aviation, said Atlas was “ideally placed” to help his company capitalise on the industry’s growth through the operation of the 747-8Fs, which will enter service in late Q3 2024.
He said: “As global airfreight volumes hit record highs this transaction highlights our ability to provide capacity solutions to a wide variety of airline customers.”
