An improving cargo market prompted Atlas Air to announce Thursday that it is taking delivery of another Boeing 747-8 freighter in November.
The decision was “based on the improved airfreight environment and customer demand,” Atlas Air said in a news release.
The plane will be a new build and not one in currently in storage, according to a Boeing spokeswoman.
The Purchase, New York-based company’s fleet includes 35 Boeing 747s in service — nine 747-8 freighters, 22 747-400 freighters and four 747-400 passenger airplanes.
The company operates its owns air cargo flights, leases airplanes and provides charter airplanes.
In its news release, Atlas Air praised the 747-8’s improved fuel efficiency.
Just over 100 747-8s have rolled out of Boeing’s Paine Field plant. Since the model went into production five years ago, Boeing has cut about 9,000 pounds from its weight and improved fuel efficiency by 3.5 percent.
Despite those gains, Boeing has struggled to find customers for the iconic airplane. On Wednesday, the company announced it plans to reduce 747 output from 1.5 to 1.0 a month by March 2016.
Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.
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