Polar Air Cargo Boeing 747 fleet history

Polar Air Cargo has operated 44 Boeing 747s since 1994 — from 747-100SFs to 747-8Fs — and today flies two 747-8Fs as an Atlas Air Worldwide subsidiary.

Polar Air Cargo, founded in 1993, built its whole operation around second-hand 747 freighters and remains a 747 operator today as a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide.

Polar began 747 flying in 1994 with 14 747-100SFs, then absorbed 747-200F/SFs, 747-300SFs and 747-400Fs. Across its history it has operated 44 747s, all acquired second-hand.

The airline was partly owned by DHL from 2007 to 2025; the joint venture ended in February 2025 and it now runs within the Atlas Air Worldwide group.

Model Notes
747-100SF (14) From 1994
747-200F/-200SF (12) Classic freighters
747-300SF (2) Stretched upper deck
747-400F (6) Converted 747-400s
747-8F (2) Current fleet

Polar continues to operate two Boeing 747-8F freighters today alongside Boeing 777 freighters.

Sources

Sources

Facts on this page are checked against the primary and institutional references below.

  1. Polar Air Cargo article — Wikipedia
  2. Atlas Air and DHL end Polar joint venture — FreightWaves
  3. Company overview — Polar Air Cargo
  4. Polar Air Cargo profile — Planespotters