Atlas Air (5Y, New York JFK) has renewed its partnership with Swiss forwarding and logistics provider, Panalpina, for a further five years. Under the terms of the new deal, Panalpina will switch one of its wet-leased B747-8(F)s to more than 200 scheduled charters per year, thereby expanding its air freight network. Atlas states the freed up aircraft will then transition to its other logistics client, DHL Express.

“The switch from one of our wet-leased B747-8Fs to more than 200 scheduled full charters per year as part of this agreement equals a change in our procurement strategy and prepares the ground for the continued expansion of our controlled air freight network,” Lucas Kuehner, global head of Air Freight at Panalpina, said.

The Swiss firm will also extend its contract for a wet-leased B747-8(F) on flights between Europe, the United States and points in Mexico. It will also operate flights from Hong Kong International to Huntsville International with dedicated scheduled charters using Atlas Air B747-400(F)s beginning next month.