Evergreen Sonair

[servicemonkey]

According to World's Director Passenger Sales:

"Encouraged by the increasing passenger and cargo loads, and fueled by increased oil exploration and production, Sonangol wanted to expand the scope of the Houston Express concept and purchased two ex-ANA B-747-400 aircraft towards that end."

And
"We recently learned, however, that SonAir selected Atlas Air, and we were informed that one of the key reasons for this decision was Atlas Air’s willingness to operate the program with integrated cockpit and cabin crews. As this program is operated under the DOT’s private charter rules, SonAir will eventually need to file for DOT approval."

It should be interesting to see how that "integrated" cockpit is going to work out.

 

[propsarebest]

hmmmmmmmmmmm...


I wonder why there hasn't been anything official yet.

 

[sgu]

Update

Outsourced Passenger Aircraft Operations

Atlas Air Selected To Operate Premium Charter Service Between Houston and Luanda, Angola

Long-Term Contract To Operate Dedicated Private Charter Service Flying Customized Boeing 747-400 Passenger Aircraft on an Outsourced ACMI Basis



Press Release
Source: Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.
On 8:30 am EDT, Friday October 23, 2009
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Companies: Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc.
PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (AAWW) (Nasdaq: AAWW - News), a leading provider of global outsourced aircraft services, announced today that its Atlas Air unit has been selected to operate an outsourced premium passenger private charter service for the U.S.-Africa Energy Association (USAEA). The Agreement to operate the charter was reached with SonAir - Serviço Aéreo, S.A. (SonAir), acting as agent for the USAEA.

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Atlas will operate the charter service with two newly customized Boeing 747-400 aircraft provided by SonAir’s parent company, which are being reconfigured into largely business and executive class configuration. The charter service, which has become known as the “Houston Express,” includes three dedicated weekly non-stop flights between Houston and Luanda, Angola. While it is not open to the public, it provides USAEA members with a premium non-stop transportation link to support complex long-term projects in the West African energy sector.

The parties have structured the long-term commercial arrangement in a manner consistent with the outsourcing business model under which Atlas Air typically operates. Under that model, Atlas Air receives contractually determined revenues for the operation of the aircraft, with the customer assuming responsibility for passenger revenue and certain direct costs, including fuel.

“Atlas Air, Inc. is proud and honored to have been selected to operate these newly customized Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft,” said William J. Flynn, President & CEO, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. “Our dedication to our customers and record of reliability and operational excellence as the largest Boeing 747-400 freighter provider in the world have set the stage for this next and important step for our company into outsourced, charter passenger service. We look forward to working closely and cooperatively with SonAir to make the Houston Express a world-class service.”

SonAir is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonangol Group, the multinational energy company of Angola and a member of the USAEA. USAEA’s members include many of the leading U.S. energy companies involved in the exploration and development of petroleum resources in West Africa.

 

[Classicdriver]

And for those that were wondering, no integration of crews (from Atlas VP of OPS) and hiring FA's from the IAH area. Not many Angolans around there, I'd bet.