Company profile
CMA CGM Air Cargo is the all-cargo airline of the French shipping group CMA CGM. The parent company was founded in Marseille in 1978 and is one of the world's leading container shipping groups, with activities in ocean freight, ports, logistics and air freight. CMA CGM Air Cargo was founded in 2021 and began operations in 2022 after receiving its air operator certificate from the French DGAC. Its main hub is Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG); its IATA code is 2C, its ICAO code is CMA, its radio callsign is French Cargo and its website is cma-cgm.com.
The in-service freighter fleet consists of five Boeing 777-200F, two Boeing 747-8F and one Airbus A330-200F, with eight Airbus A350F freighters on order for delivery from late 2027. The freighters are all deployed on long-haul mainlines, and fleet planning is coordinated with the group's ocean and port businesses as part of its move into integrated logistics.
China has been a core market since the launch. Hong Kong has five Boeing 777 freighter flights a week nonstop to Paris (CDG–HKG), Shanghai Pudong four a week (CDG–PVG), and Guangzhou three a week with an Airbus A330 freighter via Mumbai (CDG–BOM–CAN). A trans-Pacific service also runs from Hong Kong to Chicago O'Hare, operated on its behalf by a partner with Boeing 747 freighters. There is no nonstop service from Beijing or Shenzhen; shippers can export via Shanghai, Hong Kong or Guangzhou, or connect through the Paris hub.
For Chinese shippers the value lies in sea-air coordination under a shipping group: export cargo can switch between sea and air solutions, and the Paris hub covers all of Europe and extends to North America, the Middle East and Asia. Headhaul traffic is mainly Chinese electronics, e-commerce parcels, auto parts and high-value industrial goods; backhaul is mainly high-value European goods and time-critical shipments, so the two directions complement the parent's ocean network.
The three nonstop gateways cover East China, South China and the Greater Bay Area: Shanghai serves the Yangtze River Delta manufacturing belt, Hong Kong the Greater Bay Area and cross-border e-commerce, Guangzhou the Pearl River Delta and the southern hinterland. The trans-Pacific service starts in Hong Kong and connects to Chicago, giving time-critical North American cargo a lane. Shippers can pick the gateway by commodity, transit time and destination market; CMA CGM's China offices and local forwarder networks handle booking and ground connections. Space and loading conditions at each gateway are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
International air services connecting from China
The China-origin network is built around the three nonstop gateways of Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guangzhou. To Europe, cargo is distributed from the Paris CDG hub to major cities including London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan, Copenhagen and Zurich. Transatlantic traffic connects through Hong Kong to Chicago O'Hare and can reach North American gateways such as New York JFK via Paris. In Asia, points such as Mumbai, Seoul and Istanbul connect the Indian, Korean and Turkish markets. Hinterland cities behind the gateways, such as the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Chengdu-Chongqing, can feed the gateways by domestic leg.
By commodity, electronics, consumer devices, e-commerce parcels and time-critical industrial goods suit the nonstop freighter space from Shanghai and Hong Kong; the Guangzhou service via Mumbai suits export traffic to South Asia and the Middle East; the Chicago trans-Pacific lane suits cross-border e-commerce and urgent North American shipments. On the return leg, European luxury goods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and precision instruments can fly back to China through the Paris gateway, and sea-air solutions cover commodities with different transit time and cost requirements. Payload and space are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
On gateway choice, the Shanghai to Paris Boeing 777 freighter runs four times a week and suits East China shippers with regular volumes; Hong Kong to Paris runs five times a week and connects to the Chicago trans-Pacific lane, suiting Greater Bay Area shippers and urgent North American cargo; Guangzhou runs three times a week via Mumbai for traffic to South Asia and the Middle East. Cargo from second-tier Chinese cities can be consolidated by domestic leg to a nonstop gateway. The CMA CGM ocean network's Chinese ports and inland collection and distribution systems can also feed sea-air solutions. Schedules and space are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
On the return leg and two-way flows, European backhaul is mainly high-value finished goods and time-critical shipments, which pairs with the Chinese export headhaul. Under sea-air solutions Chinese importers can pace imports in batches, combining ocean volumes with air transit times. CMA CGM Air Cargo's China business centres on the nonstop gateways and, with the parent's global network, gives Chinese shippers air cargo lanes to Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.
| Connection direction | Main destinations | What it means for Chinese shippers |
|---|---|---|
| European hub deconsolidation and distribution | Paris CDG, extending to London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan and other European cities | Freighters from Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guangzhou nonstop to Paris, connecting to all of Europe the same or next day |
| Transatlantic extension | Chicago ORD, New York JFK (connected via Paris) | Trans-Pacific service from Hong Kong direct to Chicago, suited to time-critical North American cargo |
| Asia and Middle East connections | Mumbai BOM, Seoul ICN, Istanbul IST | Guangzhou connects via Mumbai, covering export traffic to South Asia and the Middle East |
| Sea-air transport | The parent CMA CGM ocean network covers global trade lanes | Switch between sea and air solutions to match different transit time and cost needs |
The table summarises the main directions from public sources. Times are local. Actual schedules vary with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Route network from Chinese gateways to the Paris hub
The map shows freighter routes between the three Chinese nonstop gateways and the Paris CDG hub on a Eurasia view. Gold arcs are nonstop mainlines; white arcs are European distribution and transatlantic extensions. Actual points and schedules are subject to carrier confirmation on the day.
Freight advantages for Chinese shippers
Nonstop freighter network
All three Chinese gateways, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, have nonstop freighters to Paris, with space offered as full-aircraft and ULD allotments, which supports steady shipment of bulk lots and time-critical commodities.
Sea-air coordination
The parent CMA CGM is a leading container shipping group, so Chinese shippers can switch between ocean and air solutions and balance transit time against cost in the supply chain.
Paris CDG as the European gateway
CDG is a major European cargo hub with established ground handling and distribution facilities; arriving Chinese cargo can connect to major European cities and transatlantic services the same or next day.
Experience with dangerous goods and special cargo
Drawing on the group's integrated logistics operations, CMA CGM Air Cargo can handle dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo, perishables and live animals, and Chinese shippers can follow the process that matches the cargo.
Additional trans-Pacific capacity
The Hong Kong to Chicago trans-Pacific service adds capacity for Chinese cross-border e-commerce and urgent North American shipments, and complements the European network.
In-house booking system
CMA CGM Air Cargo provides its own booking and tracking systems, which interface smoothly with Chinese forwarder systems, with clear processes for space confirmation and shipment status.
Together these points make up what CMA CGM Air Cargo offers Chinese shippers: nonstop freighters keep bulk flows moving, the shipping group background allows sea-air switching, the Paris hub supports distribution across Europe, and the trans-Pacific lane adds capacity to North America. Shippers can choose the gateway and capacity mix that fits their commodity, transit time and cost target after we review the options.
Aircraft types and the freighter fleet
The in-service fleet has three freighter types, all deployed on long-haul mainlines. The Boeing 777-200F is the mainstay at about 103 tonnes of payload, flying Shanghai and Hong Kong nonstop to Paris. The Boeing 747-8F carries about 134 tonnes and is the largest type in the fleet. The Airbus A330-200F carries about 60 tonnes and flies the Guangzhou service via Mumbai. Eight Airbus A350F freighters are on order for delivery from late 2027, which will add long-haul capacity and improve fuel efficiency.
Fleet planning is aligned with the parent's integrated logistics strategy: the freighters mainly serve China–Europe and transatlantic mainlines, and the A350F deliveries will support higher frequencies and longer sectors. When choosing a type by commodity, heavy and outsized cargo can go first to the Boeing 747-8F, regular volumes to the Boeing 777F, and mid-sized South China flows to the Airbus A330F. Loading conditions and payload for each type are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Boeing 777-200F
The fleet's main freighter, flying Shanghai Pudong and Hong Kong nonstop to Paris with a standard payload of about 103 tonnes; it provides most of the nonstop space out of China and holds long-haul schedules steadily.
Boeing 747-8F
The largest type in the fleet at about 134 tonnes, with a nose door for very long items, suited to heavy, outsized and bulk cargo on long sectors.
Airbus A330-200F
A medium freighter of about 60 tonnes flying Guangzhou to Paris via Mumbai, suited to mid-sized volumes and multi-stop routings.
Airbus A350F (on order)
The new-generation freighter is due from late 2027 and will progressively add long-haul capacity. Routes and schedules will follow carrier announcements.
Aircraft capacity figures are compiled from manufacturers' and airlines' public data. Actual payload is subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Airports served in China and schedule connections
CMA CGM Air Cargo runs three nonstop gateways in China and one trans-Pacific extension. Schedule reference compiled from public sources; times are local, schedules change with the season and the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking applies.
| China origin ports | Connecting points | Capacity type | Indicative schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong PVG | Paris CDG | Boeing 777-200F | Four nonstop flights a week; times are local, schedules change with the season and the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking applies |
| Hong Kong HKG | Paris CDG / Chicago ORD | Boeing 777-200F / 747 freighter operated by a partner | Five a week to Paris; trans-Pacific schedule subject to carrier confirmation |
| Guangzhou CAN | Paris CDG (via Mumbai BOM) | Airbus A330-200F | Three a week with a stop en route; actual schedule subject to carrier confirmation |
| Beijing PEK / Shenzhen SZX | Connect via PVG, HKG or CAN | Domestic leg connections | No nonstop service and no public schedule data, so shipping via a nonstop gateway is recommended |
The carrier's China business is handled by CMA CGM's China offices and local forwarder networks; space and schedules are confirmed by us on the day of booking.
Cargo booking and connection path in China
Submit shipping instructions
The shipper gives us the origin gateway, the destination city in Europe or North America, the commodity, pieces, weight and dimensions, and the transit time required; we then select the gateway and routing combination.
Lock nonstop capacity
We book space on the nonstop Shanghai, Hong Kong or Guangzhou service to Paris through CMA CGM Air Cargo's own booking system or its local agents in China, and confirm the rate and ULD plan.
Departure and Paris distribution
After acceptance, cargo is distributed from the CDG hub to European destinations as planned, or connects in Hong Kong to the trans-Pacific service for North America; connections follow the flights available that day.
Return leg and sea-air switching
European return cargo is booked in the reverse direction through a nonstop gateway into China; if transit time requirements change, it can be combined with the parent's ocean solutions.
Overweight pieces, outsized items, temperature-controlled cargo and sensitive goods must be declared at the booking stage so that we can confirm loading conditions and the ULD type required. Flight times are local and schedules change with the season, subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking. Before booking we give the shipper a list of rates, space and loading conditions; once confirmed, we complete the booking and shipping arrangements. If transit time requirements change, sea-air alternatives can be used, subject to carrier approval.
Specialist freight services from China
Integrated sea-air solutions.With the parent CMA CGM's global ocean network, Chinese shippers can switch between sea and air according to transit time and cost, moving to air when ocean space is tight in peak season, which supports flexible supply chain management.
Dangerous goods and special cargo.The CMA CGM group has complete procedures for dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo, perishables and live animals, so Chinese exports of lithium batteries, chemicals and perishables can be declared and loaded under the relevant process.
Trans-Pacific capacity for e-commerce.The Hong Kong to Chicago trans-Pacific service offers full-aircraft and ULD space for cross-border e-commerce and urgent North American shipments, with distribution at US gateways, suited to peak-season replenishment.
Hinterland connections to the Chinese gateways.Cargo from the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and inland cities can reach the Shanghai, Hong Kong or Guangzhou gateways by domestic leg; we can coordinate the domestic leg and the nonstop sector as one through movement.
Return consolidation and transit time management.High-value European goods and time-critical shipments can fly back to China through the Paris gateway; return space matches the headhaul flow, so Chinese importers can plan steady batches.
Tracking and documentation.CMA CGM Air Cargo provides its own booking and tracking systems; Chinese shippers can check shipment status on its platform or through us, and documents are issued to international air cargo standards.
Cross-border e-commerce and peak-season capacity.The nonstop Hong Kong services to Paris and Chicago give cross-border e-commerce steady freighter space, and in peak season the parent's ocean contingency can be added to keep the supply chain running through major sales events.
South China manufacturing supply chains.The Guangzhou service, three times a week, serves Pearl River Delta manufacturers; electronics, appliances and machinery parts can ship locally, cutting inland transfers and shortening total transit time.
China contact
CMA CGM's China offices have their head office in the Bund Center in Shanghai (222 Yan'an East Road), with branches in Yuexiu district, Guangzhou, and Luohu district, Shenzhen. CMA CGM Air Cargo's China business is coordinated by the group's China offices; addresses and phone numbers are as last published on the official website. Air cargo bookings can be made through CMA CGM Air Cargo's own booking system or its local agents in China.
Goodhope Freight, based in Shenzhen, with its website at https://goodhope86.com, handles air cargo from major Chinese gateways to France and other European countries, covering nonstop space booking, connections at the Paris hub, European distribution and return consolidation, and can help Chinese shippers reach CMA CGM Air Cargo's China channels for current space and schedule information.