Flexibility, Payload Key to Charter Mission
Friday, March 25, 2016 — Atlas Air, Inc., a unit of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAWW), provided essential cargo lift to help The Rolling Stones perform an historic concert in Havana, Cuba.
An Atlas Boeing 747-400 freighter carried 97 tons of staging and musical equipment from Mexico City to Havana, with a stop at Miami International Airport, on March 19. It was the first commercial charter operation of its kind by a U.S.-based carrier.
“With our global reach and flexible scale, our customers depend on Atlas Air for reliable service anywhere in the world,” said Michael Steen, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide. “As the first U.S. freighter operator chosen to operate into Cuba, we were delighted to support this one-of-a-kind event.”
The Rolling Stones will perform a free concert in Havana on March 25 — the first open-air performance in the country by a British rock band.
Including shipment by sea, the concert requires 61 containers with an estimated 500 tons of equipment, including everything needed to produce the outdoor show.
This type of mission is hardly new for Atlas Air. The company has flown equipment around the world to help keep some of the biggest names in music humming. Because of the unusual destination, there were special visa, permitting and operational challenges to work through in order to ensure a successful mission.
Concert producers and big-name acts rely on Atlas Air for scheduling flexibility and its fleet of Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 747-8 Freighters, which feature both nose-loading and side-door-loading options to accommodate outsized, unusual or sensitive cargo.
“Working with partners in the concert industry, we’re able to provide a full-scale solution to fly tons of equipment anywhere, from one-off missions for The Rolling Stones to global tours,” Steen said. “When there’s a lot at stake, our customers rely on Atlas Air for routine shipments or one-of-a-kind charters, like this one to Cuba, that require detailed planning and execution.”
About Atlas Air Worldwide:
Atlas Air Worldwide is a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services. It is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc. (Atlas) and Titan Aviation Holdings, Inc. (Titan), and is the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. (Polar). Through Atlas and Polar, Atlas Air Worldwide operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 747 freighter aircraft.
Atlas, Titan and Polar offer a range of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services that include ACMI service – in which customers receive an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance on a long-term basis; CMI service – in which customers receive crew, maintenance and insurance but not an aircraft; express network and airport-to-airport cargo service; cargo and passenger charters; and dry leasing of aircraft and engines.
Atlas Air Worldwide’s press releases, SEC filings and other information may be accessed through the Company’s home page, www.atlasair.com.
