Ocean freight giant AP Moller-Maersk (Maersk) is expanding its airfreight profile with an upgraded freighter fleet and by buying a major airfreight forwarder.
Today it placed an order for two Boeing 777 freighters and three leased Boeing 767-300Fs. The freighters will be operated by Star Air, the Danish shipping company’s in-house aircraft operator and is Maersk’s first B777F order.
Star Air – the internal air cargo operation of Maersk established in 1987 – will become a key vehicle supporting Maersk’s logistics offering and currently operates an all-B767F fleet.
Maersk also announced the intended acquisition of Senator International, a global freight forwarding company with a strong airfreight offering.
The three B767-300Fs will be operational from 2022 through Cargo Aircraft Management, the leasing arm of ATSG. The two newbuild B777Fs will be deployed by 2024.
Said Vincent Clerc, executive vice president and CEO of Ocean & Logistics at AP Moller-Maersk: “As a global integrator of container logistics, Maersk is improving the ability to provide one-stop shop and end-to-end logistics capabilities to our customers.
“This year, we have strengthened our integrated logistics offering through e-commerce logistics acquisitions, tech investments, expanding our warehouse footprint and as a natural next step, we are now ramping up our air freight capacity, creating a broader network to cater even better for the needs of customers.”
Maersk’s ambition is to have approximately one third of its annual air tonnage carried within its own controlled freight network.
This will be achieved through a combination of owned and leased aircraft, replicating the structure that the company has within its ocean fleet. The remaining capacity will be provided by strategic commercial carriers and charter flight operators.
Star Air currently operates a fleet of 15 aircraft: 12 Boeing 767-200 SF’s, 1 Boeing 767-300BCF and 2 Boeing 767-300F, including aviation licenses and 160 type-rated pilots and 50 certified aircraft mechanics. Star Air is headquartered in Dragør, Denmark, at the premises of Copenhagen Airport.
Senator is a leading German freight forwarding company owned and led by the Kirschbaum family who founded the company in 1984.
Senator has +1,700 employees across a global network with 64 offices in 21 countries across Europe, the Americas and Asia. It operates across three segments: Air freight (65% of 2020 revenue), Ocean freight (30% of revenue) and Logistics & Packaging (5% of revenue).
The B777F is the world’s largest, longest range and most capable twin-engine freighter. The airplane offers 17% better fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions compared to legacy airplanes.
With a range of 9,200 kilometers, the B777 Freighter can carry a maximum revenue payload of 102,000 kilograms, allowing Star Air to make fewer stops and reduce landing fees on long-haul routes.
“We are delighted to welcome Maersk’s Star Air to the Boeing family of 777 operators and look forward to many years of continued partnership as it grows its air cargo division,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing’s senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.
“The market leading efficiency and incredible range of the B777 Freighter will provide Maersk flexibility to profitably operate the airplane across its large air freight network.”
The B777F is Boeing’s top-selling freighter of all time. Customers from around the world have ordered more than 300 B777Fs since the program began in 2005.
