Atlas Air Worldwide has received the first of nine Boeing 747-8 Freighters it has on order.

The 747-8 Freighter has a length of 76.3m, is powered by GE’s GEnx-2B engines and offers four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets to accommodate 16% more cargo volume.

Following the delivery, Atlas Air’s subsidiary Global Supply Systems (GSS) will operate the freighter for British Airways World Cargo under a five-year wet-lease agreement.

Under the agreement with GSS, British Airways World Cargo will use three 747-8 Freighters on long-haul routes in Asia, Africa, India and the US.

Atlas Air expects to receive two additional 747-8Fs in the fourth quarter of 2011, four in 2012, and two in the first half of 2013.