Metropolitan Airport NewsMetropolitan Airport News
  • Airport News
    • Publisher’s Message
    • Fast Five
    • On Duty
    • Air Cargo
    • Airline News
    • Airport Community
    • Airport Employment News
    • Airport Safety & Security
    • Company Spotlight
    • Ground Services
    • Intermodal
    • New York Aviation History
    • Non-Rev Traveler
  • Airport & Aviation Events
  • Airport Employment
  • Latest Issue
  • Login

Subscribe for Updates

Get the latest local airport and aviation news delivered right into your inbox each week!

News Updates
New program gives access to First Officer jobs while candidates complete their military service

United Launches Industry-leading Program to Provide Active-duty U.S. Military Pilots Conditional Job Offers

September 29, 2023
PANYNJ Unveils New Construction Facility at JFK Airport

PANYNJ Unveils New Construction Facility at JFK Airport

September 29, 2023
Chrissy Toskos, Chief Human Resources Officer, Securitas North America.

Securitas North America Announces Chrissy Toskos as Chief Human Resources Officer

September 27, 2023
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Metropolitan Airport NewsMetropolitan Airport News
  • Airport News
    • Publisher’s Message
    • Fast Five
    • On Duty
    • Air Cargo
    • Airline News
    • Airport Community
    • Airport Employment News
    • Airport Safety & Security
    • Company Spotlight
    • Ground Services
    • Intermodal
    • New York Aviation History
    • Non-Rev Traveler
  • Airport & Aviation Events
  • Airport Employment
  • Latest Issue
  • Login
Metropolitan Airport NewsMetropolitan Airport News
Home»Air Cargo»Atlas Air Beefs Up Freighter Fleet With Order of Four 747-8F Aircraft
Air Cargo

Atlas Air Beefs Up Freighter Fleet With Order of Four 747-8F Aircraft

Joseph AlbaBy Joseph AlbaJanuary 19, 2021No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Atlas Air Beefs Up Freighter Fleet With Order of Four 747-8F Aircraft

When I first read this press bulletin from Atlas Air, I thought it was an old headline that was erroneously posted in a recent blog. When the headline was verified; it underscored my feeling about an airplane that is both timeless and resolute. 

Atlas Air Worldwide announced that it has ordered four new Boeing 747-8 freighters in a transaction that furthers the company’s strategic growth plan. The aircraft will enable the company to meet strong customer demand in the airfreight market, particularly the fast-growing e-commerce and express sectors.

The order is valued at approximately $1.5 billion at current list prices. The workhorse freighters that were in much demand in the shipping of vaccines, and other virus fighting equipment and medicines seemed to be enjoying a new life. 

Boeing, while recognizing the contribution of the over fifty-year old aircraft from its’ first commercial flight in 1970*, they need to move on to the new 777 series which fits current passenger demand, with the bonus of reduced carbon emissions. But for us old timers who all remember our first flights on “the apartment house that flies” – My reaction when I saw it at the gate for the first time – it is a bitter-sweet announcement. 

Metropolitan Airport News interviewed Public Relations spokeswoman, Jessica Kowal, on the ending of an era and she responded, “you will continue to see 747-8’s in the air for some time as the aircraft has a long life” which is proven by the long tenure of the airplane over the years. She added; “while the last order is in the books for delivery to Atlas Air, this airplane has the longest production life of any airplane in aviation history and will always be known for i[s iconic shape. It is an airplane that transformed the industry.”   

“The 747-8F is the best and most versatile widebody freighter in the market, and we are excited to bolster our fleet with the acquisition of these four aircraft,” said John W. Dietrich, Atlas Air Worldwide President and Chief Executive Officer. “This significant growth opportunity will enable us to capitalize on strong demand and deliver value for our existing and prospective customers. The efficiency and capability of the 747-8F further complements our longstanding focus on leading edge technology.” 

Dedicated freighters – like those operated by our Atlas, Polar and Southern subsidiaries – will continue to be in demand as the global airfreight market, particularly the e-commerce and express sectors, continues to grow.

Cathay Pacific was the most recent customer of Boeing placing an order for three 747-8 Freighters last March.  That order, which included options for five additional 777 Freighters, was valued at approximately $1 billion as well.

Atlas Air currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 117 aircraft including four 747-400s, 29 747-400Fs, and ten 747-8Fs.

The 747-8 Freighter is 250’ 2” (76.3 meters) long, which is 18’ 4” (5.6 meters) longer than its predecessor, the 747-400 Freighter.  The aircraft also offers a 16% increase in cargo space when compared to the 747-700 Freighter, and has a range of 4,390 nautical miles (8,130 kilometers).

The first 747-8F Freighter performed its maiden flight on February 8, 2010, followed by the passenger version, the 747-8I Intercontinental, on March 20, 2011.

  • * The first commercial Boeing 747 flight was a Pan Am trip from New York to London on Jan. 21, 1970.
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Joseph Alba
  • Website
  • LinkedIn

Mr. Alba was previously Editor of the Airport Press for 12 years covering both local as well as global aviation news. Prior to this, Mr. Alba had Executive positions in Systems Engineering and Marketing with IBM World Trade, and had foreign assignments in the Far East and Latin America earning three Outstanding Achievement Awards. Mr. Alba also directed a new function dealing with Alternate Fuels for Public Service Electric & Gas company in New Jersey and founded a Natural Gas Vehicle Consortium consisting of car company executives and fleet owners, and NGV suppliers in New Jersey. Mr. Alba was a founding partner of ATA, an IT Consulting company which is still active in Central and South America. After leaving the armed forces, Mr. Alba’s initial employee was the U.S. Defense Department as an analyst.

RELATED NEWS & UPDATES

Flock Freight Study Reveals Freight Inefficiencies Fuel America’s Food and Beverage Waste

Flock Freight Study Reveals Freight Inefficiencies Fuel America’s Food and Beverage Waste

September 15, 2023
Helena Williams, CEO JFK Millennium Partners

The JFK Airport Terminal 6 Revival

September 8, 2023
Forward Air

Forward Air to Combine with Omni Logistics

August 11, 2023
Boeing and the Rise of the 7x7 Jetliners

Boeing and the Rise of the 7×7 Jetliners

August 8, 2023
Crane lifting up container in yard

Alba Wheels Up Elevates Global Logistics Offering with the Acquisition of VT Mancusi

July 19, 2023
Lufthansa Cargo Paperless Freight

Lufthansa Cargo and Kuehne+Nagel Pioneer Paperless Freight Transportation With an All-digital Shipment Flow

July 18, 2023
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

AIRPORT & AVIATION EVENTS
Civil Air Patrol Falcon Squadron Meeting
October 09, 2023
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport-(JFK)
Jamaica, New York
LAAMCO Monthly General Meeting
October 10, 2023
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • LaGuardia Airport-(LGA)
East Elmhurst, New York
ADDAPT Dinner Group
October 10, 2023
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
The Heritage Club
Farmgindale, New York
  • >> More Airport & Aviation Events

Subscribe for Weekly Email Updates

Get the latest local airport news, events, and jobs delivered right into your inbox each week.

Metropolitan Airport News provides timely news, information and updates for both Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) employees and businesses that provide services at, and around the major New York airports (JFK, LGA, EWR).

John F. Kennedy International Airport
PO Box 300877
Jamaica, NY 11430 USA
Phone: (347) 396-0904
Email Us

Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn Flickr
SEPTEMBER 2023 ISSUE
Metropolitan Airport News - September 2023
LATEST COMMENTS
  • Robert Waldvogel on Long Island MacArthur: New York’s Secondary Airport
  • USN Veteran on Long Island MacArthur: New York’s Secondary Airport
  • Stephen Adams on The Ultimate Airline Employee Incentive
  • Jeff Landgrebe on The Ultimate Airline Employee Incentive
  • About Us
  • Advertising Options
  • Charitable Giving Program
  • Back Issue Archive
  • Contact Us
© 2023 Airport Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.