Atlas Air (5Y, New York JFK) has leased two of its three B747-8(F)s, previously operated by Global Supply Systems (London Stansted), out to DHL Express. The freighters will be operated by subsidiary Polar Air Cargo (PO, New York JFK) and will replace two B747-400(F)s Atlas currently operates for the logistics giant.

In January, Global Supply Systems' parent, IAG Cargo, announced the premature termination of its contract with Atlas Air. The operator had concluded that given current global air-cargo market trends, belly-hold cargo space available on fellow IAG airlines' British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) and Iberia (IB, Madrid Barajas) aircraft was more than adequate to suit its needs.