Panalpina and Atlas Air are strengthening their long-standing partnership in the air freight industry. As a cornerstone of a new five-year agreement, Panalpina will switch one of its wet-leased aircraft to more than 200 scheduled charters per year, thereby expanding its unique air freight network.

The new long-term agreement with Atlas Air will intensify our cooperation and increase our joint business, says Lucas Kuehner, global head of Air Freight at Panalpina. The switch from one of our wet-leased 747-8Fs to more than 200 scheduled full charters per year as part of this agreement equals a change in our procurement strategy and prepares the ground for the continued expansion of our controlled air freight network.

As of March, Panalpina will operate flights from Hong Kong to Huntsville with dedicated scheduled charters using Atlas Air 747-400 freighters. We will not only maintain our scheduled capacity for our customers on the transpacific route but are planning to extend this service together with Atlas Air, explains Matthias Frey, global head of Panalpina's controlled air freight network.

William J. Flynn, president and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide, says: The new agreement, which now includes scheduled charters, enhances our service offering for Panalpina, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with Panalpina as the company's network grows further.

As part of the five-year agreement, Panalpina is extending its operation of the wet-leased 747-8F on the transatlantic route, which includes calls in Mexico and the UK.

The newly expanded controlled air freight network already accounts for 15% of Panalpina's air freight volumes each year and is unique in the industry. Within this network, Panalpina controls a series of scheduled charters using different leading air cargo carriers, leased aircraft, ground handling and flight operations.