Originally Posted by
NCR757dxr
I would not be surprised if the following happens:
1) ABX-ATI merger
- OC: IXXA544T
- ABX Air
2) DHL and ATLAS enter a joint venture and purchase the "new" ABX
3) DHL attempts to bring all of the DHL airlines under one roof
- Polar/Atlas and ABX/ATI all become one large airline
4) Then they set their sights on Southern Air
- They just moved their headquarters to CVG
This will allow DHL to try what they wanted back in the early 2000s (e.g. on large airline flying under the DHL name like what was tried with Astar but with ABX playing ball this time).
Interesting rumor..... it will change tomorrow though, just like everything else at ATSG
An ABX-ATI merger is highly unlikely. When there is a merger, one certificate has to be turned in to the feds. That's whats happening with Crappy. ABX has the Inter-Asia authority and ATI has worldwide OPS SpECS with passenger ops. 2 very hard authorizations to get. You just can get pax on ABX cert very easy and ATI would have to jump through hoops to get the Inter Asia certs. But the hoops for Inter Asia are easier then pax/combi authority. Come March ATI will also have 300 RVR, something that was needed in Europe.
The possibility of Atlas getting ABX is more likely. In the next year when DHL contract comes back for bid, if Atlas was to get most of the flying, they would need airframes that are not currently available. A purchase of ABX would give them the airframes. ATSG gets rid of ABX and their scope and concentrates of the Combi cash cow and ATI. The recent long term lease of the new hangar being built in ILN under ATI is probably a sign that ATSG plans to keep ATI.
But who knows! It's all speculation!