CMA CGM to partner with Air Belgium for cargo flights

Previously we reported about the plans of Air Belgium to fly four freighters out of Liege and of CMA CGM planning to create its own cargo airline. Now, according to The Loadstar, it seems both plans will be combined. CMA CGM's new subsidiary CMA CGM Air Cargo SAS, which was established in November last year, will acquire two former Qatar Airways A330-200Fs, and will place them with Air Belgium to operate the aircraft. Air Belgium itself will also acquire two former Qatar Airways A330-200Fs, completing the planned fleet of four aircraft.

Air Belgium is expecting the first two A330-200Fs in March and will initially deploy the aircraft on cargo flights between Liege and China. It also hopes to grow the fleet to a total of six freighters should the endeavour into the cargo flying business be successful.

CMA CGM in the meantime, is also still interested in a deal with Groupe Dubreuil, in which it wants to acquire 30% of the Group and make use of the belly cargo capacity of Dubreuil's airlines Air Caraïbes and FrenchBee.

Photo by Anton Homma.