World Airways (Atlanta) has signed a one-year agreement with Jade Cargo International (Shenzhen) to operate one Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft on a full-time basis for air cargo service beginning in October 2010. Subject to final government approvals, the aircraft will connect Shanghai and Yantai with Chicago (O’Hare). The three weekly flights will then continue to Amsterdam and return to Shanghai on a “round-the-world” flight pattern.

World recently announced the addition of two Boeing 747-400 freighters, which will bring World’s 747-400 fleet to four aircraft, in addition to nine McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighters.

Jade Cargo International Company Ltd. was founded in October 2004 as a joint venture between Shenzhen Airlines (51%), Lufthansa Cargo AG (25%) and the German development finance institute DEG-Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (24%). Jade started flight operations on August 5, 2006 and operates six Boeing 747-400s.

Copyright Photo: Gunter Mayer. Jade Cargo’s Boeing 747-4EV ERF B-2422 (msn 35173) stops at Nuremberg.