Expansion of Maersk Air Cargo's freighter services extends to South America

Maersk Air Cargo, a subsidiary of A.P. Moller Maersk, has made significant strides in its airfreight operations, expanding its reach to new destinations and appointing new leaders.

John McDonald, with a 35-year background in logistics, has taken the helm as the new head of Maersk Air Freight Forwarding. Prior to this, McDonald held airfreight management roles at STG Logistics, UTi Worldwide, Ceva Logistics, and most recently, as the executive vice president and head of airfreight for Americas at DB Schenker.

In a move that reflects the company's growing ambitions, Maersk Air Cargo has expanded its operations to South America for the first time. The airline now operates multiple weekly frequencies from Hangzhou, China, to Chicago-Rockford (RFD), and from Zhengzhou, China, to its global hub in Billand, Denmark, among other routes. Additionally, Maersk Air Cargo began operating scheduled service from Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in South Carolina to Bogota, Colombia, in March, and from Chicago-Rockford International Airport to Santiago, Chile, in May.

These routes are operated twice per week with Maersk-owned Boeing 767-300 cargo jets, with flying outsourced to Miami-based partner Amerijet. Maersk Air Cargo's fleet consists of 10 767-300s and two Boeing 777 freighters.

The appointments of McDonald and Christoph Hemmann come amid an exodus of personnel at DB Schenker following its acquisition by third-party logistics provider DSV. Hemmann, who was the executive vice president for Asia Pacific at DB Schenker, has been appointed as the head of global air and less-than-containerload under the Maersk Logistics & Services organization. Hemmann will be responsible for Maersk's cargo airline and its 18 aircraft.

Maersk established an airline to move the cargo of its own customers after the Covid crisis, and since 2023, the company has expanded its destinations beyond North America, Europe, and Asia. However, available search results do not specify which additional countries it now serves.

The company carries a variety of commodities, including e-commerce orders, on southbound legs, with return flights typically carrying perishable goods and flowers. In 2022, Maersk handled 327,000 tons of cargo, up 11% year over year.

This expansion and restructuring follow the departure of John Wetherell, the previous head of Maersk Air Freight Forwarding, and a shift within the leadership of the global air and less-than-containerload division. Murali Rajamani, who previously held this position, was transferred to another position within Maersk.

Maersk Air Cargo is currently the 15th largest airfreight forwarder by volume. Amerijet has been providing pilots and routine maintenance for Maersk's air network operating between the U.S. and Asia since late 2022. With these strategic moves, Maersk Air Cargo is poised for continued growth and success in the global airfreight market.