ATLAS PONDERS PURCHASE OF A380 FREIGHTERS

ATLAS PONDERS PURCHASE OF A380 FREIGHTERS    Atlas Air Inc., the U.S.-based wet-lease freighter specialist, is considering buying 15 Airbus A380 freighters, with an option for 10 additional freighters, Reuters reported Saturday.
   Michael Chowdry, Atlas' president, speaking after a meeting of The International Cargo Association (TIACA) in Dubai, said a decision would be made sometime this year.
   The list price of the deal would be about $230 million, Chowdry said, adding his company would be entitled to a discount on the deal, as a launch customer of the A380 freighter version.
   The A380 has 150 tons of capacity and its operating costs are some 15 percent lower than those of the latest Boeing 747-400 freighters, he told Reuters.
   If Atlas acquires the planes, which would enter freighter service with the company in 2008, Chowdry said the A380s would be used on high-density non-stop long-haul routes, such as Taipei/Chicago, Hong Kong/Chicago, Tokyo/New York and Hong Kong/London.
   Atlas in November exercised an option to purchase four more B747-400 freighters worth $750 million from Boeing Co. The airline, which leases its aircraft, including crews, maintenance, and insurance, will take delivery of the planes, included as options in an order placed in 1997, beginning in 2002.