Atlas Air moves into outsourced, passenger charters

Atlas Air moves into outsourced, passenger charters    Atlas Air, an established all-cargo airline, is getting into the passenger business.
   The company said Friday it would operate three dedicated weekly flights between Houston and Luanda, Angola, to serve oil industry executives working on projects in West Africa.
   The U.S.-Africa Energy Association pursued the arrangement for a premium express service through Angola's multinational energy company Sonangol Group, which is providing two customized Boeing 747-400 aircraft with a business and executive class configuration.
   Atlas operates the largest 747-400 freighter fleet in the world. It offers charters, scheduled cargo service, military charters and full turnkey leasing for cargo airlines. In September, the company announced that it won a U.S. Air Force contract to train pilots and engineers flying Air Force One and other planes for top civilian and military leadership.