Maersk Air Cargo Set to Boost Fleet with Two Boeing 777Fs in the Third Quarter of 2024

Maersk Air Cargo, based in Billund, Denmark, is preparing to enhance its fleet with the addition of two Boeing 777-200Fs, anticipated to be delivered by the late summer or early autumn of 2024. These aircraft, initially ordered in November 2021 by the airline’s predecessor Star Air, will operate under a Danish AOC and will be stationed at Maersk Air Cargo’s primary hub in Billund, according to John Wetherell, the newly appointed global head of airfreight, in a recent interview with FreightWaves.

The introduction of these freighters marks a significant step in Maersk Air Cargo’s operational expansion, with the company planning to staff the flights with its own crew members. This is evidenced by the current recruitment advertisements seeking professionals to manage the new aircraft type.

Presently, Maersk Air Cargo’s fleet includes five Boeing 767-200(ERBDSF)s, four Boeing 767-200(PC)s, one Boeing 767-200(SF), five Boeing 767-300ER(BDSF)s, and two Boeing 767-300Fs, as per ch-aviation fleets data. This fleet expansion aligns with the rising demand in the cargo sector, with IATA figures showing a 10.3% increase in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs) in March 2024 compared to the previous year, marking the fourth consecutive month of double-digit growth.

Further bolstering its global presence, Maersk Air Cargo earlier this year registered a subsidiary in the United Kingdom, commenced scheduled cargo flights between Billund and Hangzhou, China, and inaugurated a new airfreight facility near Miami International. Wetherell highlighted the strategic importance of the Miami facility, which provides an alternative gateway for Maersk’s Asian clients aiming to penetrate the Latin American market.

Despite these expansions, A.P. Moller – Maersk, the parent company of Maersk Air Cargo, in its first-quarter financial report, acknowledged ongoing challenges in container volume growth and an over-supply in the market, though the impact is currently delayed. This acknowledgment came shortly after Maersk reduced some of its operations in the US in March 2023.

As Maersk Air Cargo gears up for its upcoming deliveries, the global airfreight landscape watches closely, anticipating the impact these new additions will have on the industry’s dynamics and Maersk’s operational capabilities.