US DoT grants Maersk Air Cargo permit request

The US Department of Transportation (DoT) has tentatively granted Maersk’s request to have the foreign air carrier permit of subsidiary Star Air transferred to its new Maersk Air Cargo business.

In September, Star Air requested that the DoT grant it exemption and permit authority in its new name, Maersk Air Cargo.

“We tentatively find and conclude that the public interest warrants granting Maersk Air Cargo an amended foreign air carrier permit,” the DoT said.

The DoT also granted Maersk Air Cargo’s request for exemption authority.

The approval means the carrier will be able to begin operations between the European Union and the US using its new name.

Maersk Air Cargo was established as a business in April as the cash-rich shipping firm looked to expand its reach beyond its traditional sea operations with investments in airfreight and freight forwarding.

The new airline is expected to be operational in the second half of the year and will utilise Denmark’s Billund Airport as its main hub and offer daily flights.

In August, the carrier conducted a special demonstrator flight from Incheon, Korea, to Greenville Spartanburg in the US.

Maersk recently confirmed Maersk Air Cargo’s three newbuild Boeing B767-300F freighters will be operated by Miami-headquartered cargo airline Amerijet on a US-China route from this autumn.

The order of the three new B767-300Fs was announced in April with the launch of Maersk Air Cargo.

They are in addition to three leased B767F freighters which will be operational this year through Cargo Aircraft Management, the leasing arm of ATSG.

The carrier has also ordered two new B777Fs due for delivery in 2024.

According to tracking site Airfleets, the carrier currently operates with a fleet of 15 B767 freighters, that were previously flown by Star Air on behalf of express carriers.

The majority of these aircraft are currently operating intra-European flights.