Atlas Air Worldwide and Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) marked the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership during a meeting in Japan between Atlas Air Worldwide CEO Michael Steen, NCA president and CEO Hiroyuki Homma and members of their respective leadership teams.
The milestone celebrates a decade of collaboration supporting NCA’s international cargo network. The partnership began in October 2016 with an agreement for Atlas to operate one Boeing 747-400 freighter for NCA, with flights commencing the following month. A second aircraft was added in 2017, followed by three additional freighters in 2019, bringing the total to five. Since then, Atlas and NCA have built a closely coordinated operating relationship that combines Atlas’ global infrastructure and NCA’s established cargo network with the widebody freighter expertise of both companies.
“Our 10-year partnership with NCA reflects the value of working together with a shared commitment to service and operational excellence,” Steen said. “What began with a single aircraft has evolved into a strong strategic relationship, supported by the expertise and dedication of our teams. We value the trust NCA has placed in Atlas and look forward to identifying new opportunities to support its business in the years ahead.”
The collaboration has enabled both companies to navigate evolving market demands while maintaining the operational coordination and flexibility required to support complex international freighter operations.
“Since commencing in 2016, our collaboration has grown substantially, and Atlas plays an integral role in supporting our global network,” Homma said. “Looking ahead, we will further deepen our ties with Atlas, dedicated to delivering higher-quality, reliable air cargo transportation services to customers worldwide.”

