Maersk launches new Chicago airfreight gateway

Maersk has inaugurated a new Chicago airfreight gateway near Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) that is designed to offer direct planeside recovery with immediate transfers to the new facility.

The shipping giant, which launched Maersk Air Cargo in April, said the new facility also serves Maersk’s air cargo hub at Chicago’s Rockford International Airport.

An estimated 70% of the US is within an overnight truck drive from the new gateway, enabling important shipments from Asia and Europe to speed to their destination.

Mike Meierkort, regional head of Maersk North America Logistics and Services, said: “We want to expand our airfreight presence and logistics services in key locations and (the) Chicago inauguration is an important step in our integrated offering to customers.

“We want to create more routing options and flexibility for customers looking to improve their air cargo supply chains. Our new Chicago airfreight gateway offers an integrated supply chain solution to time critical shipments and order fulfilment deadlines.”

The new facility is a Bonded Container Freight Station (CFS) with US Customs and operates as a US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Certified Cargo Screening Facility (CCSF) to ensure timely, secure handling of airfreight that enables priority handling and sorting of import and export cargo.

For import cargo, the time taken from arrival at ORD gateway to being ready for delivery is within 24 hours, pending customs clearance.

For export cargo, the time taken from arrival at ORD Gateway to tender and carrier is no longer than 24 hours, pending carrier booking.

The Chicago airfreight gateway news follows Maersk’s recent acquisition of forwarder Senator International which added transatlantic experience and assets to integrate into Maersk’s North America airfreight service.

Last month, Maersk applied to the US Department of Transportation (DoT) to have the foreign air carrier permit of subsidiary Star Air transferred to its new Maersk Air Cargo business.

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.