FREIGHT forwarder Kuehne+Nagel has entered a long-term dedicated charter agreement with Atlas Air to operate two new Boeing 747-8 Freighter aircraft.
Kuehne+Nagel will charter the entire and exclusive capacity of the two aircraft to operate the flights globally from the second half of 2022.
Under the agreement, Kuehne+Nagel intends to support customers on volatile trade lanes, such as the trans-Pacific routes.
Yngve Ruud, member of Kuehne+Nagel’s management board, said the expansion of the company’s dedicated charter network will support customers with solutions for long-term planning.
“We are proud to partner with Atlas Air and include these two new Boeing 747-8F in our already extensive global capacity offering,” he said.
Ordered by Atlas Air, the two new aircraft are the last Boeing 747s ever to be produced.
The cargo airline secured the aircraft to capitalise on strong demand, as the model delivers a higher payload and lower fuel consumption than other aircraft chartered by Kuehne+Nagel.
Atlas Air said the purchase of the 747-8Fs also bolsters its commitment to environmental stewardship through the reduction of noise, aircraft emissions, and resource consumption.
“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Kuehne+Nagel by providing dedicated capacity for their growing global airfreight network,” Atlas Air Worldwide president and CEO John Dietrich said.
“The Boeing 747-8F serves an incredibly important role in global airfreight, with advanced technology that allows for lower fuel consumption, higher capacity and unique nose-loading capability,” he said.
“We look forward to taking delivery of these two 747s and operating them for Kuehne+Nagel to support their network for years to come.”
Atlas Air is a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, a global provider of outsourced aviation operating services.
