Editing Atlas Air (section)

== History ==
[[File:N415MC@HKG (20181026114324).jpg|thumb|An Atlas Air [[Boeing 747-400F]] departing [[Hong Kong]].]]
[[File:N863GT EHAM.jpg|thumb|right|Boeing 747-8F N863GT, the last 747 ever built, on the taxiway at [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol Airport]]]]
[[File:Dual Atlas Air On Runway 27.jpg|thumb|An Atlas Air Boeing 747-8F lines up on Runway 27 at [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport]] as one of the airline's 747-400Fs lands on Runway 18C.]]
In 1992, Atlas Air began operations when the airline's founder, [[Michael Chowdry]], started leasing aircraft to airlines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.joc.com/air-cargo/atlas-air-founder-chowdry-killed-plane-crash_20010124.html|last=Armbruster|first=William|date=January 24, 2001|title=Atlas Air Founder Chowdry Killed in Plane Crash|work=[[The Journal of Commerce]]|access-date=May 25, 2019|archive-date=May 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525132704/https://www.joc.com/air-cargo/atlas-air-founder-chowdry-killed-plane-crash_20010124.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1993, [[China Airlines]], the first customer, initiated operations with Atlas Air with one airplane on an [[Aircraft lease|aircraft]], crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) agreement.<ref name="Atlas Air History">{{cite web | url=https://www.atlasair.com/about-us/history/ | title=History }}</ref> By 1995, Atlas Air began trading publicly.<ref name="Atlas Air History" /> In 1997, Atlas placed an order for 10 new [[Boeing 747-400|Boeing 747-400F]] aircraft with another two orders for 747-400Fs placed in 1998.<ref name="Atlas Air History" />

On January 30, 2004, Atlas Air Worldwide entered [[Chapter 11]] bankruptcy. In July 2004, the parent company completed its restructuring plan and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.<ref name="FI">{{cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= [[Flight International]] | page= 80 | date= March 27, 2007}}</ref>

In 2006, [[Amnesty International]] released a report on [[extraordinary rendition]], stating that Atlas Air was one of the airlines used by the US government for rendering detainees. This was the basis for the song "Atlas Air" recorded by [[Massive Attack]] for the album ''[[Heligoland (album)|Heligoland]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR51/051/2006/en/b543c574-fa09-11dd-b1b0-c961f7df9c35/amr510512006en.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.amnesty.org |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023131504/http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR51/051/2006/en/b543c574-fa09-11dd-b1b0-c961f7df9c35/amr510512006en.pdf |archive-date=23 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, Atlas Air began a multiyear training contract with the United States Air Force to provide training for the pilots of Air Force One. The contract also provided training for the Presidential Airlift Group. This program has been renewed several times and remains in place as of 2022.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201007043130/https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/air-force-one-pilot-training-extended-with-atlas-air/]</ref>

In March 2010, Atlas Air was awarded the contract to operate the [[Boeing Dreamlifter]] (officially the Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter), transporting aircraft parts to Boeing from suppliers around the world. It commenced operation in September 2010 under a CMI contract.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ostrower|first=Jon|date=March 9, 2010|title=Dreamlifter deal part of 747–8 compensation to Atlas|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/sources-dreamlifter-deal-part-of-747-8-compensation-to-atlas/92360.article|access-date=July 19, 2020|website=Flight Global|language=en}}</ref> In 2011, Atlas Air took the first North American delivery of the Boeing 747-8 Freighter ([[Boeing 747-8#747-8F|Boeing 747-8F]]).<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111108005979/en/Atlas-Air-Worldwide-Takes-Delivery-Of-Its-First-Boeing-747-8-Freighter | title=Atlas Air Worldwide Takes Delivery of Its First Boeing 747-8 Freighter | date=November 8, 2011 }}</ref>

On April 7, 2016, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings purchased [[Southern Air]] for {{US$|110 million}} in an all-cash deal. The transaction included Worldwide Air Logistics Group, Inc. and its two operating subsidiaries, [[Southern Air]], Inc. and [[Florida West International Airways]], Inc.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Stynes|first=Tess|date=January 19, 2016|title=Atlas Air Agrees to Acquire Southern Air Holdings for $110 Million|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/atlas-air-agrees-to-acquire-southern-air-holdings-for-110-million-1453212843|access-date=July 19, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> On May 5, 2016, [[Amazon.com]] and Atlas Air announced a deal for Amazon.com to lease 20 [[Boeing 767]]s to fuel growth of its new Amazon air-freight service, branded as [[Amazon Air]]. The deal also warranted Amazon the ability to buy up to 30% stake in the company over the next seven years. Under the agreement, Atlas Air Inc. would provide aircraft and CMI for seven years. This move came after Amazon's similar deal with [[Air Transport Services Group]] for 20 aircraft, also to be branded under Amazon Air.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jamerson|first1=Joshua|title=Amazon Partners with Atlas Air Worldwide for Cargo Services|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-partners-with-atlas-air-worldwide-for-cargo-services-1462455676|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=May 5, 2016|access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> In March 2017, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings shut down Florida West International Airways and cancelled the operating certificate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Florida West Int'l Airways formally shut down|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/54674-florida-west-intl-airways-formally-shut-down|access-date=July 19, 2020|website=ch-aviation|language=en}}</ref>

In January 2021, Atlas Air announced the purchase of an additional four 747-8 freighters from Boeing. They were the final four 747s to be built. These were to be delivered in 2022, when Boeing planned to shut the 747 production program.{{cn|date=January 2024}} On November 17, 2021, Atlas Air and Southern Air completed their merger with the transition to a single operating certificate.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/11/17/2336775/34720/en/Atlas-Air-Completes-Operating-Certificate-Merger-with-Southern-Air.html | title=Atlas Air Completes Operating Certificate Merger with Southern Air | date=November 17, 2021 }}</ref> On August 4, 2022, Atlas agreed to be bought by an investor group for $3.2 billion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apollo-led group to take Atlas Air private in a deal worth more than $3 billion |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/04/apollo-led-group-to-take-atlas-air-private-in-deal-worth-more-than-3-billion.html |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=[[CNBC]] |date=August 4, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

On January 31, 2023, the airline received the 1,574th and final 747 ever made - a 747-8F registered N863GT. As the last 747 to be made by Boeing, the aircraft features a decal of [[Joe Sutter]], the designer of the 747, on the front, right side and the words "forever incredible". Many Boeing employees and executives, including those who were part of the "Incredibles," the people who worked on the first 747 prototype, gathered at Boeing's [[Everett Plant]] to bid farewell to the final aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boeing, Atlas Air Celebrate Delivery of Final 747, an Airplane that Transformed Aviation and Global Air Travel |url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2023-01-31-Boeing,-Atlas-Air-Celebrate-Delivery-of-Final-747,-an-Airplane-that-Transformed-Aviation-and-Global-Air-Travel |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=MediaRoom}}</ref>