To accelerate its product offering that integrates logistics, ocean, rail and air and expand its global air network, A P Moller – Maersk on Tuesday announced its intent to acquire Senator International, a company with a renowned operational air freight platform of its own controlled capacity and operations across Europe, Asia, South Africa, and America.
Airfreight is a crucial enabler of flexibility and agility in global supply chains as it allows companies to tackle time-critical supply chain challenges and provides transport mode options for high-value cargo. To better cater to customers' needs, Maersk aims to increase its global air cargo industry presence, and hence the acquisition, the company said.
Senator has built a renowned airfreight operation centred around its own controlled capacity using nineteen weekly flights across its network. In addition, Senator operates a significant part of their business through a dedicated air bridge with its own controlled capacity and ensuring a high service level for its customers. This focus on its own controlled capacity is highly aligned with Maersk's air freight strategy.
Expanding Own Controlled Air Network
In addition, Maersk has also announced its plan to expand its own controlled air network by adding aircraft to its operations: three leased cargo planes to be operational from 2022 and two newbuilding Boeing aircraft to be deployed by 2024.
Accordingly, Maersk will be purchasing two new B777F and leasing three B767-300 cargo planes. The 777 Freighter is the world's largest, longest range and most capable twin-engine freighter. The airplane offers 17 percent better fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions compared to legacy airplanes. With a range of 9,200 kilometres, the 777 Freighter can carry a maximum revenue payload of 102,000 kilograms, allowing to make fewer stops and reduce landing fees on long-haul routes.
To operate and manage this added capacity, the cargo airline Star Air – the internal air cargo operation of Maersk established in 1987 - will become an essential vehicle supporting Maersk's logistics offering.
Vincent Clerc, Executive Vice President and CEO, Ocean & Logistics, A.P. Moller – Maersk, said, 'As a global provider of integrated logistics, Maersk is improving the ability to provide a one-stop-shop and end-to-end logistics capabilities to our customers. 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 significantly and 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 controlled freight network. This will be achieved through a combination of owned and leased aircraft, replicating the company's structure within its ocean fleet. The remaining capacity will be provided by strategic commercial carriers and charter flight operators.
NB: Photo is representational; courtesy: Boeing.