MSC follows rivals in setting up cargo airline

The Geneva-headquartered container line announced that it has been developing MSC Air Cargo for several months would be available from early 2023.

The launch will follow the delivery of the first of four B777-200F freighters operated by Atlas Air.

MSC said the decision to set up an air cargo airline was in response to customer and complimentary to its container shipping solutions.

Air Cargo would seem to be the latest must have addition to the business portfolio of the world’s three largest container lines, which flush with cash from record profits have also been expanding extensively into the logistics space.

In April this year Maersk announced it would be launching Maersk Air Cargo based out of Billund, Denmark with a fleet of two B777 freighters and three B767-600 cargo aircraft.

Last year CMA CGM set up CMA CGM Air Cargo which has a fleet of four Airbus A330-200F freighter aircraft and it has ordered two Boeing 777 freighters.

Earlier this year MSC Group in partnership with Lufthansa made an unsuccessful bid to acquire a majority stake in Alitalia successor ITA Airways.
Moving now to set up its own cargo airline MSC has hired Jannie Davel, formerly of Delta Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo and DHL, to develop its air cargo business and to build the team that will implement it.

“We are delighted to announce the development of MSC Air Cargo and to welcome Jannie Davel to spearhead this exciting new offering for MSC clients. This is our first step into this market and we plan to continue exploring various avenues to develop air cargo in a way that complements our core business of container shipping,” said Soren Toft, CEO of MSC.

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