CEVA expands Vietnam and China air cargo links to Chicago hub

CEVA Logistics has expanded its transpacific air cargo network with the launch of a new charter service from Hanoi, Vietnam, to Chicago and the renewal of its Wuxi, China, to Chicago route, strengthening capacity between Asia Pacific manufacturing centres and the United States. The move comes as manufacturers continue to diversify production networks across Asia and seek greater reliability in cross-border supply chains.

The company announced that the new Hanoi-Chicago charter will operate three times a week using Boeing 777 freighters, offering same-day departure and arrival. The service is aimed at customers in the technology, industrial, retail and e-commerce sectors and is designed to support growing export volumes from Vietnam, which has emerged as a manufacturing base for global companies looking to broaden sourcing beyond China.

CEVA said the charter will provide direct access to the U.S. market while integrating with its wider logistics network. Cargo will be collected and consolidated through multiple gateways in Vietnam, including Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. Domestic operations teams will coordinate multimodal transport, customs brokerage and transshipment activities to support the movement of goods from production sites to international markets.

The expansion reflects continued growth in Vietnam’s manufacturing and technology sectors, where investments from multinational companies have increased demand for air cargo services capable of providing predictable capacity and transit schedules. By offering dedicated charter capacity, CEVA is seeking to address concerns among exporters over market volatility and fluctuating freight availability.

The company is also renewing its Wuxi-Chicago charter service for a second year following the route’s launch in 2025. The service will operate twice weekly and will now be supported by CMA CGM Air Cargo, another business within the CMA CGM Group. Using Boeing 777 freighters, the route will offer up to 100 tonnes of capacity per flight.

According to CEVA, the Wuxi service has evolved from a pilot programme into a recurring operation driven by sustained demand on transpacific trade lanes. The renewed charter is intended to provide shippers with an alternative to spot market fluctuations while offering greater planning certainty for long-term supply chain operations.

To support the service, CEVA has expanded pickup coverage across manufacturing and export centres throughout China. The company said its ground transportation network will enable cargo consolidation from multiple origins before shipment through the Wuxi gateway, improving access for exporters located beyond major coastal hubs.

Both charter services will be supported through CEVA’s logistics gateway in Chicago, one of North America's major cargo distribution centres. The facility, located near O'Hare International Airport, spans 700,000 square feet and includes 350,000 square feet of freight handling space, a Free Trade Zone and temperature-controlled storage facilities. The gateway also operates as a Certified Cargo Screening Facility equipped with electronic trace detection, X-ray screening and K-9 inspection capabilities, allowing cargo to move through customs and onward transportation processes more efficiently.

The company said the Chicago operation is intended to shorten end-to-end transit times and improve inbound distribution across the United States by combining air cargo services with destination trucking and warehousing capabilities.

CEVA has also made sustainability options available for customers using the two charter routes. Shippers can choose Sustainable Aviation Fuel and other carbon reduction measures through the company's FORPLANET logistics programme as part of efforts to reduce emissions associated with international freight transport.

Commenting on the expansion, Loic Gay, Vice President of global air and ocean operations at CEVA Logistics, said, "We continue to strategically expand our controlled air network along key transpacific trade lanes to guarantee our customers access to reliable and resilient capacity. The launch of our new Hanoi charter directly addresses the rapid growth of Vietnam as a desired manufacturing hub, while the return of our popular Wuxi service supports our customers’ needs for transpacific supply chain stability. By leveraging CMA CGM Air Cargo’s capabilities, alongside our Chicago gateway, we are delivering the end-to-end speed, security and flexibility that our customers need."

The launch of the Hanoi service and the continuation of the Wuxi operation underscore how logistics providers are adapting to shifting manufacturing patterns in Asia. As companies pursue China-plus-one sourcing strategies and seek greater resilience in supply chains, dedicated air cargo capacity between Asian production centres and North American markets is becoming an increasingly important component of global trade networks.