Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc. has reported a first-quarter profit of US$23.4 million this week, improving upon the same period last year when it posted a loss of $5.3 million. Revenue fell 34.4 per cent to $244.5 million, from $373 million a year ago, in large part due to Atlas selling a 49 per cent stake in its Polar Air Cargo unit. The carrier said global air freight traffic remains weak, but “appears to be showing signs of bottoming.” With lower capacity in the industry, “any improvement in demand could have an early and meaningful impact” on Atlas, the company said in a statement.