Atlas and Airbus talk about A380F
Atlas Air Discusses Purchase of Five Airbus A380s, Tribune Says
By Andrea Rothman
Paris, Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc., the largest shipper of freight for other airlines, is talking to Airbus SAS about buying five freighter versions of the new A380, La Tribune reported, without citing anyone.
The New York-based cargo carrier would be the third company to choose the freighter version of the A380. Fedex Corp. and aircraft lessor International Lease Finance Corp. have already placed orders for the plane, the newspaper said.
Atlas Air currently operates only Boeing Co. 747s, the newspaper said, but is looking at ordering five A380s, which will be the world's largest commercial aircraft when it begins service in 2006. Atlas is also considering taking an additional five options with deliveries set for 2007, 2008 and 2009.
General Electric Capital Aviation Services, a unit of General Electric Co. and the world's largest aircraft lessor, is also looking at the purchase of 10 A380s, La Tribune said.
(La Tribune 1-7 8)