Polar Air Cargo, Inc. (Polar), will begin scheduled-service operations into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) starting November 11, 2006 with two weekly frequencies.

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (AAWW), the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc. and Polar, announced the new service yesterday.

Polar is beginning service to Beijing after an announcement in August that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) had awarded Polar four additional weekly frequencies for U.S.–China air cargo service beginning March 25, 2007. These additions will increase the carrier's total weekly China flights to 16.

Polar began its all-cargo scheduled service to China in December 2004 with six weekly flights. Three additional flights were added in March 2005, and another three in March 2006.

Polar offers scheduled-service between China and multiple points in the United States, as well as Asia, Europe, and South America.

Last month, AAWW announced that Polar planned to begin a partnership with DHL Express in which DHL Express would invest $150 million to acquire a 49 percent equity interest, including a 25 percent voting in Polar's scheduled-service business. In addition, a long-term commercial agreement between the companies would provide DHL Express with dedicated capacity for its trans-Pacific routes, and would have the potential to provide the AAWW companies with a long-term revenue stream.