Airline Newsflash! CMA launches trans-Pacific air service
On April 16th, CMA Air Cargo announced that it will launch operations in the summer of 2024 on a trans-Pacific route from Asia to North America. The launch of this strategic air transportation route marks the acceleration of CMA Air Cargo's growth.
CMA Air Cargo will take delivery of two Boeing B777-200Fs this year to ensure that capacity requirements for the new route are met. The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in June, ensuring that the trans-Pacific route will be operational in time for this summer's peak season. The second aircraft will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2024 and will also be deployed on the trans-Pacific route.
The first Boeing B777-200F freighter will fly to Hong Kong, Chicago and Seoul airports. The second freighter will fly between mainland China and North America. The flights will be operated by Atlas Air.
The addition of two new freighters to the fleet and their deployment on trans-Pacific routes marks another milestone in Air Cargo's network expansion strategy and paves the way for further growth.
In the first quarter of 2025, CMA Air Cargo will take delivery of its third Boeing B777-200F freighter, which will further strengthen the company's fleet and provide customers with more comprehensive network coverage and capacity support.
In 2026, with the delivery of eight Airbus A350F freighters, CMA Air Cargo will own and operate a global air transportation network to meet the global logistics needs of its air cargo customers.
As an inaugural customer of the Airbus A350 Freighter, CMA Air Cargo has chosen the most environmentally friendly model on the market, further emphasizing CMA's commitment to sustainable development in the transportation industry. The Airbus A350F model emits 20% less CO2 than its direct competition, making it stand out. In addition, the Airbus A350 will be the only large freighter to comply with the CO2 emission standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which will come into effect in 2028.
Established only three years ago, CMA Air Cargo has already gained wide recognition in the market for its professional strengths, covering scheduled flights (12 weekly flights from Paris to Greater China and India), charter flights and out-chartering, with a fleet of market-leading aircraft and a team of professional airfreight service providers.
With its dedicated booking system and operational teams, CMA Air Cargo is able to offer a full range of transportation solutions for all types of sensitive cargo, including dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo, perishable cargo, live animals and high-value cargo.
CMA Air Cargo's fleet currently consists of two Boeing B777F freighters and three Airbus A330F freighters, operating from its hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
The two Boeing B777F freighters fly on the Europe-Greater China route: five weekly flights to Hong Kong and four weekly flights to Shanghai.
Of the three Airbus A330F freighters currently in the fleet, two are leased out and the third operates three weekly flights on the Paris-Charles de Gaulle-Mumbai-Guangzhou route.
Damien Mazaudier, Chief Executive Officer of CMA's Air Cargo, said: "The launch of the trans-Pacific route opens up a new continent in our air cargo network. It is an important turning point in the history of our company and reflects the ambition of the CMA Group to offer our customers a full range of solutions. With the launch of this new route, we will provide our customers with more point coverage on key routes. Today's announcement marks the latest progress in our plans to globalize our business. By 2026, with the delivery of the Airbus A350F, the most environmentally friendly freighter on the market, we will have taken another major step forward in the development of our business."
