How is it cheaper for Airlines to use ACMI lessors

[shon7]

How and why is it more cost effective for Airlines to outsource their cargo flying to ACMI lessors like Atlas, Polar, World etc. Don't these companies make the airlines sign long term contracts (min 5 years). On top, the lessors make their own profit (while exclusively flying the route for a single airline) so obviously there is money to be made on the routes being outsourced.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

I don't know any specifics, but I do know FedEx has used Atlas to fly cargo. When I scheduled commercial cargo for the USAF I had to deal with a FedEx scheduler and Atlas scheduler for one of the flights.

A FedEx pilot I know was not concerned about this.

 

[Publishers]

Acmi

First of all, many of these contracts are for short duration such as Christmas rushes etc. Others may run 6 months to a year. Others are for mulitple years but can be cancelled if certain requirements are not met.

The advantages to the carriers are obvious. No long term commitment. Secondly, the aircraft in cargo may be one that the airline can use but not one of their normal fleet. As example, Saudia may use a DC8-73 for cargo while they have nothing like that in their passenger fleet.

They are usually ACMI contracts because the carrier has fuel contracts and gates etc in place and wants to use them.

 

[GCD]

In the case of Emirates, they want a large capacity cargo carrier without the initial investment, in order to use their money to purchase a modern passenger fleet. The Emirates livery -400 freighters are actually Atlas Air, Inc. airplanes.


In the case of FedEx, they use us to augment routes, such as Germany to Kyrgyzstan.