MSC Confirms Ongoing Talks with AlisCargo

MSC Air Cargo has confirmed it is in talks to acquire Italian cargo airline AlisCargo.

Reports emerged last week that the air cargo division of shipping group Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was looking to buy the airline.

Today, MSC told Air Cargo News: “MSC can confirm that discussions with AlisCargo are ongoing. At this time we cannot provide additional information until negotiations and regulatory procedures have concluded.”

AlisCargo received its AOC in July 2021 and its first commercial flight took place between Milan Malpensa and Jinan on August 18 utilising a B777-200 in a preighter configuration.

Aliscargo took delivery of its second B777-200 preighter aircraft in August of 2021 with two more joining at a later date.

The airline was hoping to launch services to North America and appointed two well-known industry names amongst its management team: chief executive Francesco Rebaudo and chief commercial officer Ulrich Ogiermann.

However, the market has since turned making preighter operations increasingly unviable, especially since carriers have been stopped from carrying cargo in the cabin.

Earlier this year, the Italian civil aviation authority suspended the airline’s operating licence.

Meanwhile, MSC has been looking to expand its fleet of aircraft.

MSC Air Cargo launched late last year after announcing in September that Atlas Air would operate four new Boeing 777-200 freighters on a global ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) basis.

In November, partner airline Atlas Air took delivery of the first freighter for use on routes between China, the US, Mexico and Europe.

Then in December, MSC Air Cargo launched operations with a first landing on December 3 and adopted Liège Airport as its European hub.

In January this year, the airline added a new service between Incheon International and Indianapolis in the US. The service operates twice weekly under the ACMI agreement with Atlas Air.

ECS Group was recently appointed as MSC Air Cargo’s GSSA in North America, Europe and Mexico.