CMA CGM Air Cargo adds Shanghai flights

CMA CGM Air Cargo has become the latest airline to expand its services to China.

The French airline, owned by shipping giant CMA CGM, began flying an Airbus A330-200 freighter four times a week from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Shanghai Pudong International airport on February 17.

“This brings our airfreight operations up to 15 scheduled flights per week, connecting Europe, Asia and the US,” said CMA CGM in a LinkedIn post on February 20.

The airline has been serving Hong Kong since October 2022 and currently operates a Boeing B777F from the French capital five times a week on that route.

CMA CGM Air Cargo was launched in March 2021. Besides the China connections, it also flies to Chicago and Miami in the US, and intends to add links with Seoul and Bangkok from its home hub in Paris.

Air Cargo News reported in December that the airline had begun leasing out some of its freighters, after a steady decline in air cargo demand since March 2022.

Airlines are beginning to reintroduce China to their networks following the country’s decision to ease its pandemic measures.

Lufthansa Cargo recently said it would add more flights to China and Hong Kong, as well as Chengdu.

Ethiopian Airlines Cargo has added belly capacity to China and also launched a new freighter service connecting China and Brazil as it targets e-commerce demand.

Etihad Cargo has added additional freighter and passenger flights to Shanghai.

Cathay Pacific, Hainan and Air China have also announced increases in flights.