ATLAS Air Worldwide Holdings, a global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services, has placed two new Boeing 747-8 Freighters with Panalpina.

    The pair has signed a new multi-year aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) contract for two Boeing 747-8Fs. The aircraft will enter service in the first half of 2012 and operate in Panalpina's own-controlled air freight network, replacing the two smaller Boeing 747-400 freighters.

    "The upgrade from the two current Boeing 747-400 to the two new Boeing 747-8 freighters is expected to deliver improved, next-generation performance in terms of payload, fuel efficiency, total cost per tonne-mile and environmental impact," said Matthias Frey, global head of the own-controlled air freight network at Panalpina.

    The Boeing 747-8 freighter, 5.6 metres longer than the 747-400, is expected to be the largest, most efficient, long-haul heavy freighter in the market. The 747-8F is expected to provide 16 per cent more revenue cargo volume compared with the benchmark 747-400F.

    The additional 120 cubic metres afforded by the longer fuselage offers space for four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets. The maximum payload is 139 tonnes, which is 20 tonnes more than with the 747-400F.

    Compared to the 747-400F, carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by 12 per cent. The new aircraft is also quieter as its noise footprint is reduced by 30 per cent compared to the 747-400F.

    Panalpina's healthcare clients will be the first to benefit from the newest freighter technology. There is high demand in large-freighter capacity in general, but particularly in healthcare for temperature-sensitive cargo, a company statement said. crack

(source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=News)