Atlas, Polar To Consolidate Operations But Maintain Brands

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAWH) will merge the operations of its subsidiaries Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo under Polar while maintaining the two separate brands under a reorganization plan established when the company emerged from bankruptcy last year.

AAWH expects the operational consolidation to happen in January 2006 to "to derive optimal benefits from the financial restructuring approved by the Bankruptcy Court."

Atlas and Polar are separately licensed carriers that specialize in different types of air transportation. Atlas offers mainly ACMI services, while Polar specializes in scheduled services.

But maintaining separate operations creates inefficiencies and unnecessary costs in several areas, including a "duplicative management structure" that prevents a "single completely integrated chain of command," AAWH said.

As part of the operations merger under Polar's Part 119 certificate, AAWH wants to register "Atlas" and "Atlas Air" as trade names for Polar Air Cargo. Atlas Air will return its Part 119 certificate to FAA and "most of its DOT-issued certificates, exemptions and related rights," the holding company said.

AAWH also asked DOT to reissue Polar's various certificates and exemptions to include Atlas [OST-2005-21445].