France’s CMA CGM Air Cargo to add 777s in 1Q22

CMA CGM has ordered two B777-200Fs directly from Boeing to expand its nascent subsidiary CMA CGM Air Cargo’s operations.

The French shipping giant told ch-aviation the aircraft would deliver in spring 2022 and will support CMA CGM Air Cargo’s growth in the global air freight sector.

CMA CGM currently owns four A330-200Fs that are operated by Air Belgium (KF, Brussels Charleroi) under a CMI contract. The aircraft are based out of Liège and operate scheduled cargo services to Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson, Chicago O’Hare, New York JFK, and Dubai Int’l, as well as charter flights. Recently, French labour union APNA disclosed that CMA CGM Air Cargo was planning to pursue its own French Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) for the B777 freighters and would base them out of Paris CDG. A company spokesman declined to comment on the veracity of the claims.

In its 1H21 financials, CMA CGM said it has so far purchased five aircraft for USD261.6 million (the identity and variant of the fifth Airbus jet was not revealed) and that the order for the two B777s, which it valued at a total of USD188.5 million, was placed during the first semester of the year.