PURCHASE, N.Y., May 2 (UPI) -- Atlas Air Inc. of New York, a provider of cargo charter flights for the U.S. military, has been approved to operate charter flights for military personnel.
The approval from the U.S. Department of Defense will mitigate any possible decrease in U.S. military cargo flights, the company said.
"AMC (U.S. Air Mobility Command) passenger service is an exciting expansion of our business," said William J. Flynn, president and chief executive officer of Atlas Air Worldwide, the parent company.
"We expect modest levels of military-passenger flying in 2011, which will increase in 2012. Each hour we fly is an hour of growth for us and is part of our strategy to mitigate any reduction in AMC cargo demand.
"Since approximately 95 percent of U.S. troops move via commercial air carriers, there should be a good level of sustained passenger demand. We foresee meaningful earnings growth from AMC passenger operations in 2012 and beyond."
