Air France-KLM and CMA CGM to cancel cooperation deal

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Air France-KLM and CMA CGM are to end their strategic air cargo partnership, signed in April 2023, blaming “the tight regulatory environment in certain important markets” which had “prevented the cooperation from working in an optimal way”.

At the time that the deal was signed, the partners said that approval had been gained in all markets except except US, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Turkey and Mauritius. An Air France KLM spokesman said that that was still the case and that approval had still not been obtained in those countries.

The carrier and forwarder will withdraw from their existing agreements from 31 March. However, they have begun discussions on new terms and conditions of a commercial relation to operate independently from that date.

Both groups remain committed to work collaboratively, to ensure cargo customers can continue to benefit from their respective networks.

CMA CGM remains a core shareholder in Air France-KLM but have agreed that CMA CGM will step down from the Air France-KLM board of directors on 31 March.

CMA CGM and Air France-KLM signed what they described as a “long-term strategic air cargo partnership” announced in May 2022 with an initial duration of 10 years. The two carriers would combine their cargo networks, full freighter capacity and other services, using the airline’s hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam

The two operators’ combined capacity consisted of up to 12 full-freighter aircraft, six operated by CMA CGM Air Cargo, initially based at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and six from Air France-KLM based at Paris.

The partnership also covered Air France-KLM’s belly aircraft capacity, including over 160 long-haul aircraft.