Polar Air Cargo Worldwide will begin service into Osaka's Kansai International Airport from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, effective February 21.

The time-definite airport-to-airport subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings will fly B747-400 freighters five times weekly between Chicago and Osaka with connections from Osaka to Shanghai and from Chicago to other U.S. and South American destinations. The expanded operation takes advantage of 24-hour airport service and a newly-opened second runway.

Following the U.S.-Japan bilateral civil aviation negotiations in September, Polar gained six frequencies to Japan in addition to its existing five frequencies to Tokyo with service beyond to Seoul, South Korea.