CMA CGM Group to invest $1bn for new air cargo hub in Chicago

CMA CGM Group is planning to invest $1 billion for new air cargo in the U.S. as part of the proposed $20 billion investment spread over four years.

"Anchored by a new hub in Chicago, the Group will deploy five new Boeing 777 freighters, operated by American pilots, to strengthen U.S. trade and connectivity and ensure the reliable transport of critical and time-sensitive goods," says an official release.

CMA CGM Air Cargo announced the launch of its first commercial flight connecting Hong Kong to Chicago on August 25,2024 with its new Boeing 777-200F.

"The delivery of this new B777-200F, operated by Atlas Air, will play a key role in the expansion of CMA CGM Air Cargo network on a strategic route, serving airports like Hong Kong, Chicago and Seoul. The first commercial flight took place on August 25, 2024, connecting Hong Kong to Chicago with a technical stop in Anchorage. On the westbound leg, the aircraft operates from Chicago to Hong Kong via Seoul."

Two B777-200F are scheduled for deliveries in 2025, and CMA CGM Air Cargo customers will benefit from a total of seven frequencies per week on the Transpacific. "In 2025, a third aircraft will strengthen the fleet by extending its reach and available capacity for its customers. Since 2022, two Boeing 777-200F aircraft operated by CMA CGM Air Cargo, based at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub, have been serving routes between Europe and Greater China, with five flights per week to Hong Kong and four flights per week to Shanghai."

At the time of its launch in 2021, CMA CGM Air Cargo had an operational fleet of four Airbus A330-200 freighters. According to data from planespotters.net the carrier has a fleet of four aircraft - three B777Fs (all in service, and one of them operated by Atlas Air) and one A330F, which is parked since January 2023.

CMA CGM Air Cargo has also placed an order with Airbus for eight of its new generation A350 freighters each with a payload of 104 tonnes. The deliveries have been pushed to 2027 and beyond on specific supply-chain challenges, notably with Spirit AeroSystems.

$20 billion investment plan
CMA CGM Group announced a $20 billion investment to contribute to the U.S. maritime economy and support the transformation of America’s domestic supply chain over the next four years.

"This announcement builds on CMA CGM Group’s 35-year presence in the U.S. Today, the Group operates in 40 states and employs 15,000 Americans. As a leading partner in U.S. trade, CMA CGM transports over five million shipping containers to and from the country each year," says an official release.

Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO, CMA CGM Group says: "I am proud to build on our long-standing relationship with the United States through this commitment of $20 billion to the country’s maritime future and logistics capabilities. Over the next four years, we will significantly grow our U.S.-flagged fleet, expand the capacity of key container ports on both coasts, develop state-of-the-art warehousing across the country and establish a significant air cargo hub in Chicago. This will create 10,000 new American jobs and further strengthen our partnership with American customers and public authorities."