World Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc., has reached agreement for a multi-year ACMI wet-lease contract with Air Canada to operate an additional MD-11F freighter aircraft for international cargo service, subject to Air Canada board approval. Under the agreement, World would operate two MD-11F aircraft for Air Canada through August 2007 between Toronto, Canada; China and points in North America. The amended contract has an estimated value of $101 million. World launched service with the first aircraft in May 2005, and the second begins in June.

"We welcome the opportunity to expand our new partnership with Air Canada to support their growing cargo operation," said Rob Binns, World's senior vice president, marketing and planning. "We will operate five flights a week between Toronto and Shanghai, with intermediate service to Calgary on four of those flights."

"In view of strong customer response to our recently introduced Toronto-Shanghai all-cargo service, we are excited with the prospect of expanding dedicated freighter services to Shanghai from our main Toronto hub," said Claude Morin, vice president, Air Canada International Cargo Division. "The Calgary-Shanghai link is also a priority as we look to improve access from Alberta to the rapidly expanding Chinese market."

The additional aircraft became available because of a delay in previously announced new service by Thai Air Cargo. With this expanded Air Canada agreement, World's five MD-11 freighters will be leased into 2007.