Air Cargo News.

Edited by Aram Gesar, [e-mail] For more global news, data, analysis and features, please go to: http://www.AirGuideOnline.com/professional.htm Sep 18, 2006

American Airlines. United Airlines

Cargo pricing suits resolved for American, United. United Airlines and American Airlines say they will settle class-action lawsuits related to cargo shipments. The lawsuits alleged price fixing, but the carriers say they were never accused by government agencies or found liable in civil suits. The agreements do not require the two airlines to make payments. Sep 14, 2006

Atlas Air, Polar Air Cargo 

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, parent of Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, placed a firm order with Boeing yesterday for 12 GEnx-powered 747-8 freighters valued at $3.4 billion, with deliveries slated for 2010-11. Atlas operates the world's largest fleet of 747Fs with 20 dash 400Fs and 15 dash 200Fs and had been considering replacements for four dash 200Fs, a dash 100F and a dash 300F retired from Polar's fleet earlier this year. Boeing and Atlas had appeared close to a dash 8F deal for some time, and the cargo operator will be the plane's North American launch customer. Sep 13, 2006

Boeing

Boeing maintained its bullish air cargo outlook, projecting 6.1% annual average worldwide airfreight growth over the next 20 years in its World Air Cargo Forecast 2006/07 released this week. While long-term growth potential is strong, traffic growth last year and in 2006 has been slow. After an explosive 12% surge in 2004, world air cargo traffic expanded only 2% in 2005 and 3.1% in the first half of this year. "Much of this recent deceleration can be attributed to the rise in jet fuel prices since late 2004," Boeing wrote in the forecast, adding that "positive yet hesitant growth characterizes the market for 2006." Rising fuel prices "diverted some traffic that otherwise would have moved by air cargo channels to less expensive maritime trade lanes." Sep 15, 2006

Boeing

Boeing said growth in Asian air cargo markets will exceed previous forecasts, with the domestic Chinese and intra-Asian markets expanding 10.8% and 8.6% per year respectively. Asia also will fuel growth on key trade lanes, it said, predicting that Asia-North America air cargo traffic will average 7.1% annual growth followed by Europe-Asia's 6.9% yearly rise. "More mature markets, such as North America and intra-Europe, will grow more slowly than the world average, as will routes involving Latin America and the Middle East." Overall, Boeing predicts the world freighter fleet will increase to 3,563 from the current 1,789 by 2026, with the greatest growth in widebody freighters such as the 747, 777 and 767. Of the 2,983 freighters predicted to join the fleet, 1,209 will be replacements for retired aircraft and 1,774 for growth. More than 75% will come from passenger/combi-to-freighter modifications, while 766 will be new production freighters. Sep 15, 2006

Boeing

Boeing said that world air cargo growth is expected to expand at an average annual rate of 6.1 percent during the next two decades, with a three-fold increase in worldwide air freight. The information is included in Boeing's World Air Cargo Forecast 2006/2007, released today at the International Air Cargo Forum and Exposition 2006. Boeing has published the World Air Cargo Forecast, widely acknowledged as the definitive industry forecast of worldwide air cargo traffic growth and freighter aircraft demand, as an individual report since 1986. The new forecast is available here Sep 13, 2006

Boeing

Boeing predicts the world freighter fleet will increase to 3,563 airplanes from 1,789 during the 20-year forecast period, with the greatest growth in wide body freighters such as the Boeing 747, 777 and 767. This category ultimately will represent 64 percent of the fleet, compared to 50 percent today, eventually constituting more than 90 percent of total freighter capacity. Of the 2,983 freighters predicted to join the fleet, 1,209 would be replacements for retired aircraft and 1,774 for growth. More than 75 percent, 2,217 airplanes, will come from passenger/combi-to-freighter modifications, while 766 will be new production freighters. Sep 13, 2006

Boeing

Boeing provides the most comprehensive freighter solutions to meet varying market demands. Boeing is the only manufacturer to offer a complete line of new freighters to cover the entire market such as the wide body 747, 777 and 767. Boeing freighters offer the lowest trip and ton-mile cost in every freighter size. For example, the new 777 freighter will allow operators to carry 229,000 lbs of payload with the lowest trip cost of any large freighter. In addition, Boeing also offers a wide range of passenger-to-freighter and combi-to-freighter conversions for Douglas and Boeing airplane models, teaming with industry leaders to provide innovative conversion solutions to match virtually any air cargo requirement. Sep 13, 2006

Boeing

Boeing's 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter, the specially modified 747-400 that will transport major assemblies for the 787, took to the air for the first time Saturday. The aircraft left from Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport for a 2-hr. flight, initiating a test program targeting FAA certification. It is designed to accommodate three times the cargo volume of a standard dash 400 freighter. Boeing decided against contracting out transport of major 787 components and instead will use its own fleet of three 747-400LCFs to ferry assemblies among Japan, Italy, Kansas and South Carolina before flying them to its Everett, Wash., factory. It said the operation will result in savings compared to ocean transport or using a third-party carrier and will allow for more efficient 787 production. Two freighters are slated to enter service in 2007. Evergreen Aviation Technologies is modifying the planes in Taiwan using aircraft Boeing repurchased last year. They are being equipped with extra-large fuselages and "swing tail" doors to allow for easier loading. The modified fuselage will be 18 in. wider than an A380 fuselage and will have a main deck cargo volume of 65,000 cu. ft. Sep 12, 2006

Boeing, Atlas Air Worldwide

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings today announced the carrier has ordered 12 747-8 Freighters, making Atlas the North American launch customer for the airplane. At list prices, the order is valued at about $3.4 billion. Atlas will begin taking delivery of the airplanes in 2010 and expects all 12 aircraft to be in service by the end of 2011. "With this order, Atlas Air remains the leader in providing the capacity and operational flexibility required by our air cargo customers using the state-of-the art freighter platform," said William J. Flynn, president and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. Atlas operates the world's largest fleet of Boeing 747 Freighters, with 20 747-400 and 15 747-200 Freighters in service with operators throughout the world. The 747-8F, which has a common pilot type rating and more than 70 percent parts commonality with the 747-400F, assures Atlas a seamless and low-cost introduction of the new airplane into its fleet. Sep 12, 2006

Boeing, China Cargo Airlines

Boeing delivered the first 747-400ERF to China Cargo Airlines, the China Eastern Airlines/China Ocean Shipping Group joint venture. China Cargo's fleet is composed of six MD-11Fs and one leased 747 freighter, and it uses belly space on China Eastern passenger flights. The aircraft delivered to China Cargo will carry a maximum payload of 124 tons and has a maximum range of 4,970 nm. Sep 15, 2006

FedEx

FedEx pilots union leadership approved the four-year tentative contract reached with management two weeks ago and unanimously recommended ratification when more than 4,000 eligible pilots cast ballots in voting scheduled for Sept. 18-Oct. 17. FedEx and its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Assn. reached the deal after more than two years of often-contentious negotiations. MEC Chairman David Webb said the new agreement provides "substantial benefits," including "industry-leading pay, improved retirement benefits for pilots through changes in both the defined benefit and defined contribution plans, and strengthened and enhanced work rules." Sep 12, 2006

Menzies Aviation

Menzies Aviation announced the acquisition of Catamount Holdings, a cargo services business at Chicago O'Hare, and Integrated Airline Services Alliance, a ground handler specializing in low-cost carriers in Florida, Atlanta and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Sep 14, 2006

World Air Holdings

World Air Holdings announced it has launched its previously announced tender offer to purchase up to 2.2 million shares of its common stock at $9-$9.50 per share. The offer expires Oct. 6. Sep 13, 2006

World Airways

World Airways will operate two MD-11 freighters for Lufthansa Cargo between the US and Europe for one year beginning at the end of next month. World currently operates 17 MD-11s and DC-10s. Sep 13, 2006