Air Transport International
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cargo airline |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Wilmington, Ohio , United States |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Cargo charter services, combi charters, wet-lease aircraft solutions |
| Owner | Air Transport Services Group |
Number of employees | 495 (2006) |
| Parent | Air Transport Services Group |
Air Transport International, Inc. is an airline based in Wilmington, Ohio, United States. The company focuses on global cargo charter services and combi charters tailored for the express package sector, freight forwarders, and the United States Department of Defense. Additionally, it offers wet-lease aircraft solutions. Wilmington serves as its primary operational hub. Air Transport International functions as a subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group ().
History
Established in 1978 under the name US Airways, the airline commenced operations in 1979 and was subsequently renamed Interstate Airlines. It adopted its present designation in 1988. On October 1, 1994, International Cargo Express was integrated into Air Transport International. The airline became part of the Brink's Company portfolio in February 1998 before being sold to Cargo Holdings International (CHI) in 2006, at which time it employed roughly 495 personnel.
Cargo Aircraft Management acted as the primary client for the Boeing 767 freighter conversion initiative, with ATI maintaining profitability despite a worldwide decline in airline earnings following its acquisition by CHI. The rollout of upgraded, fuel-efficient Boeing 767 freighters was planned for June 2008.
On November 2, 2007, Wilmington-based ABX Holdings agreed to acquire Cargo Holdings International. Under the Air Transport Services Group umbrella, ATI and its affiliate Capital Cargo International Airlines continued to operate independently.
In March 2013, Capital Cargo merged into Air Transport.
In March 2016, Amazon.com engaged ATI to support its Amazon Prime air network, leading to fleet growth and increased flight operations managed by ATI's parent organization. ATI has since become a key operator for Amazon Air. Furthermore, ATI conducts military charter flights on behalf of the United States Transportation Command.
Current fleet
As of June 7, 2021, Air Transport International's fleet comprises a total of 49 aircraft. This includes one Boeing 757-200PCC and three Boeing 757-200C configured for passenger charters; seven Boeing 767-200BDSF; and a combined total of thirty-eight Boeing 767-300ER/BDSF aircraft operated for Amazon Air (32) and Aloha Air Cargo (6).
Previous fleet
Air Transport International's former fleet included a range of aircraft, with a focus on Douglas DC-8 variants and Boeing 757-200PCF models. Among the retired equipment were four Boeing 757-200PCFs operated for DHL Aviation between 2013 and 2020, alongside several DC-8 versions phased out from 1983 through 2015.
Accidents and incidents
| Flight | Date | Aircraft | Route | Location | Incident details | Casualties | Likely cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 102 | March 12, 1991 | DC-8-62F | New York, NY to Brussels, Belgium | New York, NY | Takeoff was aborted, resulting in collision with ILS equipment; the aircraft was destroyed by fire. | 5 minor injuries | Flight engineer’s errors in preflight planning and weight/balance calculations; insufficient pilot oversight. |
| 805 (operated by Burlington Air Express) | February 15, 1992 | DC-8-63F | Seattle, WA to Toledo, OH | Swanton, OH | Spatial disorientation after unsuccessful ILS approaches led to a fatal crash. | 4 fatalities | Pilot lost control of the aircraft. |
| 782 | February 16, 1995 | DC-8-63F | Kansas City, Missouri to Westover Air Reserve Base/Metropolitan Airport | Kansas City International Airport | During a ferry flight with one engine out, the plane crashed following a tail strike on takeoff. | 3 fatalities | Takeoff continued below rotation speed; inadequate training for three-engine takeoffs; deficiencies in company training programs. |
Animal transport violations involving macaques from China
In December 2014, Air Transport International transported 1,148 crab-eating macaques from Guangzhou to Houston without providing food or water for more than 24 hours, breaching the Animal Welfare Act. This incident represented the company’s second breach concerning the shipment of laboratory research animals from China.