Atlas Air (SonAir) Boeing 747-481 N263SG (msn 29263) IAH (Jeffrey S. DeVore), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (New York-JFK) announced today (June 2) that its Atlas Air unit has launched new outsourced premium passenger private charter service on behalf of the United States-Africa Energy Association (USAEA). The service, known as the “Houston Express,” has been made possible by a commercial arrangement with USAEA’s agent, SonAir-Serviço Aéreo, S.A. (SonAir), an Angolan company.
Beginning this week, Atlas Air is operating three weekly nonstop flights between George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Luanda, Angola. The newly customized Boeing 747-400 aircraft, provided by SonAir’s parent company, feature 10 First Class, 143 Business Class and 36 Economy Class seats with the latest in-flight entertainment and comfort.
Not available to the public, the service provides USAEA members with a premium, nonstop link to support long-term energy projects in West Africa.
The flights depart Houston on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the 14-hour, 20 minute eastbound journey, returning from Luanda on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with a flight time of 15:05.
The first round-trip flight arrived in Houston today – constituting the first Atlas-operated aircraft carrying passengers.
Copyright Photo: Jeffrey S. DeVore. Atlas Air’s Boeing 747-481 N263SG (msn 29263) is pictured on the ramp at Houston (Bush Intercontinental).
Thisis a good plane but the coach seats are a killer. Only about 18 inches wide and willn ot recline, like taking a 15 hour ride with 5 people in a toyota corrola. Looks like there will be a few prople changing to another airline.
Oh by the way not all of the business seats are filled there is a complete section not being used, this can n ot go on for long.
Thank you Jerry for the input. Atlas Air is a relative newcomer to the scheduled passenger service market so they are probably learning the hard way.
Bruce