CMA CGM Air Cargo is launching a transpacific service connecting Asia to North America in the summer of 2024 with the introduction of three Boeing B777F freighters as part of its expansion, according to Manila's PortCalls.
In preparation for the new route, the shipping and logistics firm will take delivery of two Boeing B777-200F aircraft in 2024, with the first scheduled for June and the second expected in the fourth quarter.
The first B777-200F will serve airports in Hong Kong, Chicago, and Seoul. The second will connect mainland China to North America. Atlas Air will operate the flights.
In early 2025, the company will welcome a third B777-200F aircraft. It has plans to introduce eight Airbus A350F aircraft in 2026.
As the launch customer for the cargo version of the A350, CMA CGM Air Cargo prioritizes environmental sustainability, with the A350F model featuring a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to its counterparts. It will be the only large freighter aircraft compliant with the CO2 standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, effective 2028.
At present, the CMA CGM Air Cargo fleet comprises two B777F and three A330F aircraft, all stationed at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub.
The pair of B777F aircraft facilitates connections between Europe and Greater China, operating five flights weekly to Hong Kong and four flights weekly to Shanghai.
Among the three A330F aircraft in the current fleet, two are leased to third-party entities. The third A330F conducts operations between Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Mumbai, and Guangzhou, with three weekly flights servicing the routes.