ABX Air Agrees To Purchase A Boeing 767-223 Aircraft

ABX Air, Inc. (NasdaqGM:ABXA - News) today said it has agreed to purchase a Boeing 767-223 aircraft formerly operated by American Airlines and will convert it from passenger to freighter configuration.
``We intend to seize opportunities to add to our Boeing 767 fleet when they become available under attractive terms,’’ ABX Air President and CEO Joe Hete said. ``This purchase reflects our confidence in both the economic value of 767s as highly efficient, mid-size freighters, as well as continued strong demand from shippers for the flexible, high quality airfreight services that ABX Air provides.’’

ABX Air’s cost to purchase and modify the aircraft will be about $20 million. It is expected to be available for service in ABX Air’s ACMI charter business by early 2008.

ABX Air has 35 Boeing 767 freighter aircraft in revenue service to date, including 29 in dedicated service for its largest customer, DHL, and 6 for ABX Air’s other charter and ACMI customers. Including aircraft still being modified, ABX Air expects to have 42 767 aircraft in service by early 2008.