The first B777 was delivered earlier this month and the second is due to arrive on March 2. Both planes' capacity will be under contract to Thai Airways International's cargo division.
'The addition of these two Boeing 777s — the first to join our fleet — is a defining moment in the history of Southern Air that begins the next phase of the company's growth,' said Daniel J. McHugh, the airline's new chief executive officer, in a statement on Monday.
The two B777s become part of Southern Air's existing fleet of 16 B747 freighters.
| Southern Air is adding two B777 freighters, to be under contract to Thai Airways International's cargo division. |
Norwalk, Conn.-based Southern Air was founded in 1999 as a provider of ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) services, after acquiring certain assets of Southern Air Transport Inc. of Columbus, Ohio. Oak Hill Capital Partners, a private equity firm with expertise in aircraft leasing, financing and manufacturing, holds the majority share in the firm, followed by company founder James Neff.
Southern Air provides its freighters to a number of large combination cargo carriers and government agencies.
“In a telephone interview, McHugh said that in addition to the B777 that has been delivered and the one to arrive March 2, the company has two B777s on order and an option for two others.”
In recent years, many airlines have either reduced or eliminated altogether their freighters, relying strictly on the belly capacity of passenger planes for cargo capacity. With the global recession now beginning to lift, airline interest in main-deck freighters has started to return, said Roy Linkner, Southern Air's senior vice president of sales and marketing.
McHugh believes Southern Air's new B777 freighters have arrived in the market at the right time. 'We're seeing a positive demand curve starting to materialize,' he told American Shipper. ' Chris Gillis
