-
Mediterranean Shipping Company is eyeing to acquire AlisCargo
-
The Swiss global ocean shipping giant is reportedly in talks to expand its MSC Air Cargo arm
-
MSC Air Cargo has been flying between China, the US, Mexico and Europe since Q1 2023
-
A successful acquisition of AlisCargo would enhance MSC’s air cargo flights to its business portfolio
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is reportedly negotiating with Italian cargo airline AlisCargo to grow its MSC Air Cargo airline business.
Founded in 2021, AlisCargo’s fleet consists of four Boeing 777 200ER P2F aircraft used for both ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) and cargo charter services, according to the company’s website.
If the acquisition pushes through, MSC, the world’s largest ocean liner, will add air cargo service to its group business and free itself from contracting the services of air cargo subcontractors.
Recently, the container shipping mammoth partnered with IBS Software to roll out “iCargo” to transform its air cargo operations digitally, according to IBS Software’s website.
iCargo, the Software as a Service (SaaS) solution for air cargo management from IBS Software, will install a digital platform for cargo sales, operations, cargo accounting, and a portal for MSC.
MSC Air Cargo launched operations in late December 2022 after its partner Atlas Air took delivery of the first freighter that it would operate for the shipping company as part of a previously announced ACMI agreement.
RELATED READ: MSC enters air cargo business deal with Atlas
The B777-200 Freighter initially flew on routes between China, the US, Mexico and Europe in the first quarter of 2023.
The aircraft is the first of four B777-200 Freighters that Atlas Air will operate on behalf of MSC
MSC said its air cargo operation would complement its box shipping operation and expand services on key trade lanes for industries that have traditionally required air cargo needs.
South Koreea’s Incheon Airport has said MSC is the second shipping-line-owned cargo airline to add services to the airport, following Maersk Air Cargo’s service to Greenville in the US that was launched last November.
MSC’s container liner peers CMA CGM of France and Maersk of Denmark launched their air cargo operations between late 2021 and late 2022 as air shipping rates rallied due to strong demand for express delivery of time-sensitive goods including Covid-19 vaccines and surging e-commerce shipments.
Shipping and logistics company CMA CGM announced in February 2021 that would expand into air freight with the creation of a specialized air freight division to be called CMA CGM Air Cargo.
The French transport group bought four 60-ton-payload Airbus A330-200F freighter aircraft, which came into service between 2014 and 2016. CMA CGM is reportedly due to take delivery of the planes next month.
At the same time, ocean shipping faced a demand squeeze after an anticipated year-end peak season failed to materialize amid concerns about the global economy, triggering a sustained drop in shipping rates that persists until today.
