Atlas Air Worldwide acquires two ex-LATAM B777 freighters

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has announced it has acquired two B777-Fs from LATAM Airlines Group for an undisclosed sum.

The US operator holding said in a statement the former LATAM Cargo Chile machines would be placed with its Southern Air (9S, Cincinnati Int'l) unit which would operate them for DHL Express. The first of the aircraft to enter service under the ACMI contract was previously operated on a CMI (crew, maintenance and insurance) basis for DHL Express by Southern Air. It is due in service this month with the second to follow in June.
“These 777 freighters enhance our position in this attractive aircraft type and are consistent with our strategy of growing the operations that we acquired as part of Southern Air,” Atlas Air Worldwide President and Chief Executive Officer William J. Flynn said.
Atlas Air is currently in discussions with a banking syndicate to finance the two 2012-vintage aircraft and expects to close the financing transaction during the second quarter of this year.

For its part, Southern Air currently operates five B777(F)s and five B737-400(F)s.

ch aviation