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A.P. Moller-Maersk launched Maersk Air Cargo, the company’s main air freight offering
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The new venture will be fully operational by the second half of 2022
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It will progressively deploy five aircraft: two new B777F and three leased B767-300 freighter
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The company will operate out of Billund airport
A.P. Moller-Maersk launched today (April 8) Maersk Air Cargo, the company’s main air freight offering.
Expected to be fully operational by the second half of 2022, Maersk Air Cargo will launch daily flights from its hub in Billund, Denmark’s second largest airport, A.P. Moller-Maersk said in a statement.
Maersk last operated from Billund in 2005. From the continent, Maersk Air Cargo will progressively deploy a controlled capacity of five aircraft: two new B777F and three leased B767-300 freighter. Three new B767-300 freighters will also be added to the US-China operation, which will be initially handled by a third-party operator. The new aircraft are expected to be operational from the second half 2022 and onwards up to 2024.
Maersk said it seeks to have approximately one third of its annual air tonnage carried within its own controlled freight network. This, it said, will be achieved through a combination of owned and leased aircraft, replicating the structure that the company has within its ocean fleet. The remaining capacity will be provided by strategic commercial carriers and charter flight operators.
Maersk Air Cargo takes over operations of in-house aircraft operator, Star Air. The transfer has been approved by the Danish Civil Aviation Authority.
The new venture also announced its intent to enter into an agreement with the Flight Personnel Union , which is a part of the Danish Confederation and Trade Unions.
Maersk said its owned controlled capacity, powered by Maersk Air Cargo, is designed to make supply chain journeys more resilient and intuitive. As a standalone service, Maersk Air Freight can help customers make the most of opportunities by getting their air cargo to the right place at the right time.
Enabler of flexibility
“Air freight is a crucial enabler of flexibility and agility in global supply chains as it allows our customers to tackle time-critical supply chain challenges and provides transport mode options for high value cargo. We strongly believe in working closely with our customers. Therefore, it is key for Maersk to also increase our presence in the global air cargo industry by introducing Maersk Air Cargo to cater even better for the needs of our customers,” said Aymeric Chandavoine, Global Head of Logistics and Services, A.P. Moller-Maersk.
The new venture “is an important step of the Maersk Air Freight strategy, as it will allow us to offer customers a truly unique combination of air freight integrated with other transport modes. We see an increased and continued demand for air cargo both today and going forward as well as a growing demand for end-to-end logistics, why it is important for us to strengthen our own-controlled capacity and advance further on our air freight strategy,” according to Torben Bengtsson, Global Head of Air & LCL (Less than Container Load), A.P. Moller-Maersk.
Billund Airport CEO Jan Hessellund, for his part, said: “We have had growth, defied the Corona and set a new record year in cargo in 2021. It does not happen without good partners, and we do what we can to make our partners good. Now Maersk Air Cargo enters the stage at Billund Airport and raises it a notch. We are incredibly proud that we are being chosen as Maersk’s European hub for air freight, and we look forward to developing the collaboration to even new heights.”
