GlobalX and FreightCloud collaborate on Asia–US–America e-commerce routes

Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) has signed an MoU with Chinese e-commerce logistics provider FreightCloud to develop e-commerce cargo routes between China and the US, with onward distribution across the Americas.

The joint service using GlobalX Airbus A321 freighters is expected to begin in early 2023, moving to GlobalX-owned A330Fs later that year. FreightCloud’s financial partner Hudson Highland Partners will provide financing for the collaboration.

In March, GlobalX signed an order for the long-term lease of two Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) aircraft from Petrus Aerovista A321 Holdings LLC, a joint venture between Aerovista and Petrus Aviation.

Changsha-headquartered FreightCloud has moved over 150,000 tons of cargo on more than 3,000 widebody freighter flights from China to the US and Europe during the last two years. Through the partnership with GlobalX, it will develop its Asia–US services further by distributing shipments from hubs in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York to destinations across the Americas.

FreightCloud chief executive Robin Fu said the use of GlobalX freighters to move cargo within the Americas “helps to increase our cargo volumes and strengthen and expand our relationships with existing and new customers”.

Ed Wegel, chair and chief executive of GlobalX, added that the partnership “will enable our cargo division, XCargo, to participate in the lucrative Asia to US cargo market, first with our narrowbody freighter fleet and eventually with our A330F fleet currently being planned”.

The new services remain subject to Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and Department of Transport (DoT) approvals.

GlobalX currently flies as a passenger ACMI and charter airline serving the US, Caribbean, and Latin American markets, but has been investing in P2F aircraft to move into the cargo market. In October 2020, GlobalX announced plans to lease 10 converted Airbus A321 freighters from Vallair, while in May 2021 it signed a LOI to lease five A321s with ST Engineering’s Aviation Asset Management unit.

Megan Ramsay www.aircargonews.net