Atlas Air, Inc. and Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, have announced the expansion of their strategic partnership by adding a new Boeing 747-8 Freighter under a long-term agreement to increase capacity on routes between China and the Americas.
This expansion builds upon Atlas Air’s partnership with Cainiao, and the new aircraft will enter service for Cainiao in the second quarter of 2022, linking China with the United States, Brazil, and Chile.
This 747-8F aircraft is among the last 747s ever to be produced by Boeing. As previously announced, Atlas ordered the last four 747 production aircraft to capitalize on strong demand and deliver value for its customers, while also bolstering its commitment to environmental stewardship through the reduction of aircraft emissions, resource consumption, and noise. The iconic Boeing 747 program has been in operation for over 50 years and will continue to play a critical role in keeping global supply chains moving for decades to come.
“We are very pleased to extend our strong partnership with Cainiao with the placement of one of our new 747-8Fs, the best performing widebody freighter in the industry with unique nose-loading capability,” said Atlas Air Worldwide President and Chief Executive Officer John W. Dietrich.“Cainiao is a leader in the fast-growing e-Commerce logistics market, and we look forward to continuing to support its global network with the superior and reliable service Atlas Air provides. This fuel-efficient, high-capacity aircraft reinforces the commitment to environmental stewardship that Atlas and Cainiao share.”
“Through our successful partnership, Cainiao has been able to offer our customers across the Americas faster and more eco-friendly deliveries provided by Atlas’ global operating capabilities. We are excited to add the new Boeing freighter to our expanding partnership in response to the growing demand for e-Commerce and greener logistics across the world,” said William Xiong, Cainiao’s Chief Strategist and General Manager for Export Logistics.
The Boeing 747-8 Freighter is the most capable, technologically advanced, and environmentally friendly widebody freighter. The 747-8F provides 20% higher payload capacity and 16% lower fuel consumption than the very capable 747-400F.
In November 2021, Cainiao expanded its partnership with Atlas Air to include daily charter flights operated between China and Latin America in response to the growth of cross-border trade between China and Latin America.
