World’s largest ocean freight carrier Mediterranean Shipping launches air cargo business

World’s largest ocean freight carrier Mediterranean Shipping launches air cargo business

Mediterranean Shipping Co., the world’s largest container line, will expand into air cargo using four leased Boeing Co. wide-body freighters after missing out in a bid for Italy’s flag-carrier airline. The new business will led by Jannie Davel, a former managing director of cargo at Delta Air Lines Inc. who has also worked at Emirates and DHL, with the 777-200Fs to be provided by Atlas Air, which will fly them on MSC’s behalf. “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,” MSC CEO Soren Toft said in a statement on Monday. The Swiss firm joins French rival CMA CGM SA in establishing an in-house air-freight fleet. CMA began flying cargo jets in 2021 and in May, swollen with profits generated during the coronavirus pandemic, agreed an alliance with Air France-KLM that included a stake of as much as 9 per cent in the debt-laden airline. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S also agreed in 2021 to lease three Boeing 767 freighters and purchase two new 777Fs, to be operated and managed by cargo specialist Star Air. Still, the news from MSC comes as