Atlas Air
| Company type | Division of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cargo airline, Passenger charter, Aircraft leasing |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Michael Chowdry |
| Headquarters | White Plains, New York , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (over 300 destinations) |
| Products | Cargo and passenger air transport services, aircraft leasing |
Number of employees | 4,056 (2021) |
| Parent | Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings |
| Website | atlasair |
Atlas Air, Inc. stands as a prominent American cargo carrier, passenger charter service provider, and aircraft lessor headquartered in White Plains, New York. As a fully owned division of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, it manages the largest global fleet of Boeing 747 aircraft, totaling 61 active planes. By 2021, the company employed 4,056 personnel and connected more than 300 destinations worldwide.
History
Atlas Air was established in 1992 by entrepreneur Michael Chowdry, initially focusing on leasing aircraft to other airlines. Its inaugural client was China Airlines, beginning operations under an ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) contract in 1993. The company went public by 1995 and expanded its fleet with orders for Boeing 747-400F freighters placed in 1997 and 1998.
After declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2004, Atlas Air Worldwide underwent restructuring and successfully emerged later that year. In 2007, it secured a long-term agreement with the United States Air Force to provide pilot training for Air Force One and the Presidential Airlift Group—a contract extended through 2022.
Starting in 2010, Atlas Air operated Boeing’s Dreamlifter cargo planes under a CMI arrangement to support Boeing’s international supply chain. The airline received its first Boeing 747-8F freighter in North America in 2011.
In April 2016, Atlas Air Worldwide completed the acquisition of Southern Air for $110 million, including its subsidiaries Southern Air, Inc., and Florida West International Airways, Inc. The following month, Atlas Air entered into a partnership with Amazon.com to lease 20 Boeing 767 aircraft for Amazon Air, granting Amazon an option to acquire up to a 30% ownership stake over seven years. Atlas provided aircraft along with CMI services to facilitate this strategic move into e-commerce logistics. Florida West International Airways ceased operations in March 2017.
In January 2021, Atlas Air placed an order for four final Boeing 747-8 freighters—the last units manufactured before Boeing concluded the program. By November 2021, Atlas Air and Southern Air consolidated operations under a single operating certificate to enhance efficiency. In August 2022, an investor consortium led by Apollo agreed to purchase Atlas Air for $3.2 billion.
On January 31, 2023, Atlas Air received the last Boeing 747 ever produced—a 747-8F registered as N863GT—signifying the conclusion of a legendary chapter in aviation history. This aircraft bears a tribute decal honoring Joe Sutter, the original architect of the 747, highlighting Atlas Air’s commitment to preserving the legacy of this groundbreaking airplane.
Operations
Atlas Air’s main headquarters are located in White Plains, New York, complemented by a flight operations center situated in Erlanger, Kentucky. The company offers aircraft and crew management (CMI) alongside air charter services catering to airlines, express carriers, freight forwarders, charter brokers, global shippers, and the U.S. military. Additionally, it provides dry-leasing options for freighter aircraft. Its worldwide network covers regions including Africa, Asia, the Pacific Rim, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America. Crew bases are established at key U.S. airports such as Anchorage–Ted Stevens, Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Memphis International Airport, Miami International Airport, New York–JFK Airport, Ontario International Airport (California), and Tampa International Airport.
As of late 2023, Atlas Air operates flights for MSC Air Cargo on behalf of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), with MSC owning the planes adorned in its own livery.
Passenger Services
Beginning in 2010, Atlas Air partnered with SonAir to deliver exclusive private charter flights for the U.S.-Africa Energy Association, employing two specially modified Boeing 747-400 aircraft configured to accommodate 189 passengers across three travel classes. This operation, dubbed the "Houston Express," featured thrice-weekly nonstop routes connecting Houston and Luanda, Angola. By 2017, Atlas Air expanded its charter clientele to include the Jacksonville Jaguars. As of 2021, the company offered a passenger charter fleet comprising 10 Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft available for lease.
Fleet
As of , Atlas Air's active fleet consists of the following aircraft:
7| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passenger Capacity | Remarks | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | C | Y+ | Y | Total | |||||
| Passenger Aircraft | |||||||||
| Boeing 747-400 | 5 | — | 10 | 143 | — | 36 | 189 | Configured for VIP transport | |
| 12 | 52 | 70 | 240 | 374 | Configured for VIP transport | ||||
| — | 23 | — | 505 | 528 | |||||
| Boeing 767-300ER | 5 | — | — | 30 | — | 218 | 248 | ||
| Cargo Aircraft | |||||||||
| Boeing 737-800BCF | 8 | — | Cargo | Operated on behalf of Amazon Air | |||||
| Boeing 747-400BCF | 2 | — | Cargo | ||||||
| Boeing 747-400F | 28 | — | Cargo | ||||||
| 5 | Operated for Nippon Cargo Airlines | ||||||||
| Boeing 747-400LCF | 4 | — | Cargo | Operated on behalf of Boeing | |||||
| Boeing 747-8F | 6 | 1 | Cargo | Additional 747-8F from AirBridge Cargo pending delivery TBDTemplate:Fix/category[citation needed] | |||||
| 1 | Operated for Kuehne + Nagel | ||||||||
| 1 | Operated for Apex Logistics Last Boeing 747 produced, delivered February 2023 |
||||||||
| Boeing 767-300ERF | 3 | — | Cargo | ||||||
| 21 | (Leased from Titan Aircraft Investments; Atlas operated 17 as of year-end 2021) | ||||||||
| 2 | (Operated on behalf of DHL Aviation) | ||||||||
| Boeing 777F | 4 | 1 | (
colspan="5" rowspan="3") Cargo ) |
(Operated for Mediterranean Shipping Company Air Cargo) | |||||
| (Owned by Titan Aircraft Investments, operated by Atlas) | |||||||||
Incidents and Accidents
- On January 24, 2005, Atlas Air Flight 8995, a Boeing 747-212BSF (N808MC), overran the runway at Düsseldorf Airport due to inadequate braking caused by heavy snow accumulation. The aircraft was subsequently declared a total loss.
- July 23, 2006, saw Atlas Air Flight 6972, a Boeing 747-400 (N418MC), involved in a runway incursion incident with United Airlines Flight 1015, a Boeing 737-322.
- On February 2, 2008, cargo shifted during takeoff from Lome Airport on an Atlas Air Boeing 747-2D7B (N527MC), resulting in significant structural damage that led to the aircraft being written off.
- In February 2010, flap components detached from an Atlas Air Boeing 747 during landing operations in Miami. The FAA proposed a $500,000 penalty citing alleged improper maintenance procedures.
- On February 23, 2019, Atlas Air Flight 3591, a Boeing 767-375ER(BCF) (N1217A), crashed near Houston while approaching George Bush Intercontinental Airport, resulting in fatalities of both pilots and one passenger. The NTSB attributed the accident to pilot error and spatial disorientation and criticized Atlas Air’s recruitment and training protocols.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- American companies founded in 1992
- United States charter airlines
- Airlines founded in 1992
- Members of Airlines for America
- U.S. cargo airlines
- Companies headquartered in Purchase, New York
- 1992 establishments in New York (state)
- New York (state) based airlines
- Initial public offerings in 1995
- Companies that underwent Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004
- American companies established in 1992
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment