First 747-8F in Atlas Air Livery

Fresh from the flight line, it's the first appearance of Atlas Air's house livery on a 747-8F. The aircraft was delivered this morning, direct from Paine field to CVG (North Kentucky International).

Atlas Air took delivery of its first 747-8F on May 29, 2012 and its second on July 24, but both of those aircraft wear the colors of Panalpina, for whom Atlas operates the aircraft. Atlas partner Global Supply Systems also operates a trio of the big freighters, leased from Atlas, for British Airways World Cargo.

N852GT (msn: 37571) - the sixth for the company overall - is, however, the very first to display Atlas' own colors.

On September 20, Atlas Air announced that its sixth and seventh 747-8Fs will be placed into service for DHL Express, operating within the Polar Air Cargo network, and will replace two 747-400s on those routes. It's possible that the second of these aircraft will be painted in the now familiar hybrid DHL colors, with a yellow tail and conventional titles. Atlas will receive two additional 747-8Fs, for a total of nine, in early 2013.

In two weeks Michael Steen, EVP of Atlas Air Worldwide, will be speaking on a the “Seeking Solutions to the Air Freight Dilemma” panel at the Cargo Facts Aircraft Symposium in Miami. To find out more about this event, or to register for it, click here.

© Photographer: Alex Kwanten