The story of CMA CGM Air Cargo begins in the late 1970s, when the French shipping company CMA CGM decided to launch its own cargo airline. In 1978, the company acquired two Boeing 707-320B aircraft and began operations as CMA Air Services. Initially, the airline only operated freight flights between Paris and the French overseas territories.
Over the following years, the airline gradually expanded its operations. In 1989, CMA Air Services began operating international flights to destinations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. In 1992, the airline was renamed CMA CGM Air Cargo and its fleet was increased to include four Boeing 747-400F freighters.
Throughout the 1990s, CMA CGM Air Cargo continued to grow and expand its operations. In 1995, the airline began operating flights to the United States and, in 1997, it opened a hub in France’s Charles de Gaulle Airport. By the end of the decade, the airline was operating flights to more than 30 countries around the world.
In 2002, the airline began operating services to Asia and, in 2005, it opened a hub in Hong Kong International Airport. By this time, CMA CGM Air Cargo had become a major player in the air cargo industry and was flying to over 60 countries.
In 2010, the airline made history when it became the first cargo airline to operate the world’s longest air cargo flight. The flight, which operated between Hong Kong and Paris, took 19 hours and covered nearly 12,000 miles.
In 2014, the airline celebrated its 35th anniversary and, in the same year, it opened a new hub in Dubai International Airport. This marked another important milestone in the airline’s history and, today, the airline operates flights to over 100 countries around the world.
Throughout its history, CMA CGM Air Cargo has been involved in a few incidents. In 1998, one of its Boeing 747-400F aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with a DHL Airbus A300-600F. Both aircraft were destroyed but, fortunately, no casualties were reported. In 2014, another CMA CGM Air Cargo plane was involved in a crash in Nigeria, although the exact cause of the accident was never determined.
Today, CMA CGM Air Cargo continues to be a major player in the air cargo industry. The airline operates a fleet of more than 10 aircraft, including the Boeing 747-400F, the Boeing 767-300F, and the Airbus A330-200F. With its extensive network of international flights, the airline is well-positioned to meet the needs of customers around the world.
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