By Eva Richardson | April 3, 2025 | The Logistic News
As global trade continues to seek resilience beyond ocean freight, CMA CGM is making a bold move into the skies. Through a dual-pronged expansion strategy, the French shipping giant is reshaping its logistics identity—strengthening its air cargo footprint via targeted acquisitions and strategic airline partnerships.
In March, CMA CGM simultaneously completed the acquisition of Air Belgium’s cargo operations and activated a 10-year commercial partnership with Air France-KLM, confirming its ambitions to become a fully integrated, end-to-end logistics powerhouse.
Air Belgium Acquisition: A Fleet With Ready-Built Capabilities
CMA CGM’s takeover of Air Belgium’s air cargo business, including aircraft and operational infrastructure, gives the group immediate lift capacity and access to existing transatlantic and intra-Europe routes.
This acquisition integrates several Airbus A330-200 freighters into the CMA CGM Air Cargo fleet, providing additional widebody capacity during a time when global belly cargo space remains inconsistent due to fluctuating passenger flight schedules.
More importantly, the deal includes Air Operator Certificate (AOC) transfer and operational control, granting CMA CGM full autonomy to scale or reroute services based on market demand.
Strategic Alliance With Air France-KLM: Capacity Meets Connectivity
In a parallel development, CMA CGM activated its air cargo alliance with Air France-KLM, first announced in 2022. The partnership enables both companies to jointly market their freighter and belly cargo capacity, creating one of the most comprehensive combined cargo networks in the industry.
Under this agreement, CMA CGM gains access to Air France-KLM’s global air freight infrastructure, including belly space on hundreds of weekly passenger flights, ground handling services, and digital booking systems. The combined network spans over 250 destinations worldwide, linking Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa with streamlined transit options.
“This is a next-level integration of air cargo,” said a CMA CGM spokesperson. “It allows us to offer multimodal solutions with real flexibility and speed, especially for time-sensitive and high-value shipments.”
Strategic Vision: From Container Ocean Carrier to Global Logistics Leader
These moves reflect CMA CGM’s broader shift away from being a traditional container shipping company toward becoming a multimodal, end-to-end logistics integrator. Over the past five years, the company has invested heavily in inland logistics, last-mile services, and now air cargo.
As part of the CEVA Logistics group—its 100% owned logistics arm—CMA CGM Air Cargo complements a growing ecosystem that includes:
-
Controlled air charters (e.g., Wuxi–Chicago lane)
-
Ocean freight and container terminals
-
Warehousing and fulfillment services
-
Road and rail freight in key corridors
The objective: offer shippers a one-stop shop from factory to final delivery, using the fastest or most cost-effective transport mode, depending on cargo priority.
Outlook: A Multimodal Blueprint in a Volatile Market
The strategic timing of CMA CGM’s air cargo expansion is telling. As the global freight market stabilizes after the pandemic-era volatility, businesses are reevaluating supply chain risk and looking to diversify transport methods. For sectors like pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and e-commerce, air freight isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
With direct control of freighter aircraft, access to global belly capacity, and deep integration with CEVA Logistics, CMA CGM is not only future-proofing its business—it’s creating a blueprint for the next generation of global logistics.
Conclusion
In a sector dominated by ocean carriers reinventing themselves as logistics brands, CMA CGM’s air cargo push stands out for its depth and execution. By combining ownership with partnership, the company is building agility into its DNA—and sending a clear message: when it comes to moving goods around the world, CMA CGM now delivers by land, sea, and air.
For more executive insights and global freight developments, subscribe to The Logistic News.
