The Air Cargo arm of shipping and logistics group CMA CGM has launched a new transpacific route between Asia and North America after taking delivery of its third Boeing 777-200F on 18 August.
The new aircraft, operated by Atlas Air, will serve airports including Hong Kong, Chicago, and Seoul. The first commercial flight took place on 25 August from Hong Kong to Chicago with a technical stop in Anchorage. On the westbound leg, the aircraft operates from Chicago to Hong Kong, via Seoul (ICN).
Another B777-200F will be received in the fourth quarter of 2024 and will also be deployed on a transpacific route, connecting mainland China to North America, giving a total of seven transpacific frequencies per week.
Another B777F delivery will take place in 2025, giving CMA CGM a fleet of five aircraft.
Two aircraft based at CMA CGM’s Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub have been serving routes between Europe and Greater China since 2022, with five flights per week to Hong Kong and four to Shanghai.
CMA CGM Air Cargo chief executive, Damien Mazaudier, said, “We are very proud to extend CMA CGM Air Cargo’s reach to the US, a strategic country for the Group. This opening comes with the delivery of a third B777 Freighter, a very efficient long-range aircraft that will allow us to serve our customers on new routes across the Pacific and to respond to dynamic market conditions. This new asset also plays a key role in contributing to greater sustainability in airfreight, in line with the CMA CGM Group’s ambitions.”