CHINA SOUTHERN TO LAUNCH U.S. FREIGHTER SERVICE

CHINA SOUTHERN TO LAUNCH U.S. FREIGHTER SERVICE    China Southern Airlines, China’s largest air carrier, will launch a scheduled B747-200 freighter service between Shenzhen, a city in southern China near Hong Kong, and Chicago on April 12.
   The new service, made possible by an aviation agreement signed by China and the United States last summer, will depart Shenzhen every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday afternoon. The 100-ton capacity B747-200 will arrive the same day in Chicago after stopping in Anchorage. Return flights will depart every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evening.
   Atlas Air will operate the freighter on behalf of China Southern under a long-term “wet-lease” contract, which covers aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance.