Under the partnership, Atlas Air will operate six Boeing 747-8Fs, two 747-400Fs, eight 777-200Fs, and four 767-300Fs.
The agreement builds on the long-standing partnership between Atlas Air Worldwide (AAWW) and DHL, which began in 2008 and included DHL acquiring 49% of AAWW subsidiary, Polar Air Cargo, and a long-term agreement for six 747-400Fs to operate on key Trans-Pacific routes.
AAWW has also completed a joint collective bargaining agreement for Atlas Air and Southern Air pilots represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
The five-year agreement is one of the last steps in completing Atlas Air’s merger with Southern Air, which it acquired in 2016.
AAWW says pilots will receive higher pay and enhanced benefits from October with the remaining items and conditions to be implemented in the coming months.
The agreement has been attacked by pilots, who, on the Twitter account The Pilots of Atlas say the deal was forced on them by a third-party arbitrator, adding that Atlas Air did not bargain in good faith.
The account tweeted several times to criticise the deal, warning the deal could have a long term negative impact on the airline, especially for pilot recruitment and retention, stating in another tweet that the contract, “guarantees that Atlas Air will be a place to train, not a place for a career”.