Boeing 747-409LCF DreamLifter N780BA (msn 24130) JFK (Ken Petersen) (to be operated by Atlas Air), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. announced that Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) has selected Atlas Air (New York-JFK) to provide key supply-chain support for the production of Boeing’s all-new commercial jetliner, the 787 Dreamliner. Beginning toward the latter part of 2010, Atlas Air will operateBoeing’s Dreamlifter fleet of four 747-400 aircraft that have been modified to transport major assemblies for the 787 Dreamliner from suppliers around the world to Boeing production facilities in the United States.

The parties have structured the nine-year agreement in a manner consistent with the outsourcing business model under which Atlas Air typically operates. Under that model, Atlas Air will receive contractually determined revenues for the operation of the Dreamlifter aircraft, with Boeing assuming responsibility for certain direct costs, including fuel. Under the CMI arrangement, Boeing will provide and maintain ownership of the aircraft assets.

AAWW is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc. and Titan Aviation Leasing, and is the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. Through Atlas and Polar, AAWW operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 747 freighter aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen. Ex-China Airlines Boeing 747-409LCF N780BA (msn 24130) was converted to a Dreamlifter on February 16, 2007. It is pictured at New York (JFK).