Star Air is now Maersk Air Cargo, the all-cargo airline of the Maersk group. IATA code DJ, ICAO code SRR, AWB prefix 763, headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, operating base Billund Airport (BLL). The airline runs a European cargo network with Boeing 767 and 777 freighters, has long operated European regional cargo flights for UPS, and carries Maersk's own air freight products on intercontinental trunk routes. Cargo exported from China connects to its European network through a European hub; capacity and schedules are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Star Air was founded in 1996 as the cargo airline of Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk and was consolidated and renamed Maersk Air Cargo in 2022. IATA code DJ, ICAO code SRR, radio call sign STAR CARGO, air waybill (AWB) prefix 763. The company is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with its main operating base at Billund Airport (IATA BLL, ICAO EKBI) and UPS contract bases at Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) in Germany and East Midlands Airport (EMA) in the UK.
The airline has long operated European regional cargo flights for United Parcel Service (UPS). The fleet is built around Boeing 767 freighters, including the 767-200SF/BDSF and 767-300F, with Boeing 777F widebody freighters carrying Maersk's own air freight products on intercontinental trunk routes. The network covers major European cargo hubs and links Scandinavia, Western Europe and Southern Europe. After Maersk launched its own air freight brand in 2022, the airline extended from its European base into long-haul intercontinental cargo.
For Chinese shippers, Star Air is one all-cargo option for exports entering the Nordic and wider European markets. No scheduled freighter service from China to Denmark is operated by the airline itself, so China-origin cargo connects through European hubs such as Frankfurt and Amsterdam into its European regional network, reaching the Nordics, Western Europe and the UK. The airline has no publicly listed cargo office in China and China business runs through agents; Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) can handle trunk booking, transfer connections and capacity confirmation toward Europe.
Trade between China and Denmark and the wider Nordic region is steady, and Chinese goods hold an important place in Danish imports, mainly machinery and electrical products, electronic equipment, solar modules, telecommunications equipment and consumer goods. Billund sits in central Jutland and is the airline's main operating base; cargo from China distributes through its European network to the Nordics, Western Europe and Southern Europe after hub transfer.
Danish air cargo is built around European regional networks plus truck distribution. Billund sits between the Nordic region and Western Europe, Cologne Bonn and East Midlands sit in the Western European and UK hinterlands, and the three bases form a European cargo triangle. Chinese exports pick a gateway by destination city; Frankfurt and Amsterdam are the main gateways on China-Europe trunk routes, and cargo connects from either into the Star Air European network toward the Nordics, Western Europe and the UK.
Star Air's operating history tracks Maersk group logistics strategy. It began with Boeing 727 and 757 freighters on European regional services for UPS and later moved to a Boeing 767 fleet. After Maersk launched its own air freight brand in 2022, Star Air as the operating platform added Boeing 777F widebody freighters for long-haul intercontinental cargo. Global air cargo cycles have led the airline to adjust its US deployment in recent years; the fleet now operates mainly within Europe, so routing China cargo through a European gateway is the practical path.
The airline holds a UK operating permit for the Boeing 767-200 and is one of few UK carriers cleared for the type, with deep experience in UK-bound cargo. Cargo from China to the UK can connect through the East Midlands base into its European network, with stable last-mile distribution times. [Note: no public source confirms this; subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.]
The airline website is starair.dk and the Maersk air freight brand site is maersk.com; cargo sales are handled by its Billund headquarters and the Maersk air freight commercial team. The airline has no publicly listed cargo office in China, and China business runs through the Maersk global logistics network and local Chinese freight forwarders.
Chinese exporters needing freighter capacity toward the Nordics and Europe should contact the airline's local Chinese agents or work through Goodhope Freight. Goodhope Freight handles freighter capacity with the Star Air commercial team and European hub ground agents; submit requirements at goodhope86.com.
The current fleet centers on Boeing 767 freighters with Boeing 777F widebody freighters alongside. The 767-200SF/BDSF mainly flies UPS European contract services, the 767-300F covers European and intercontinental legs of Maersk's own air freight products, and the 777F is used for long-haul intercontinental cargo. Every type is full-freighter configuration on the main deck, able to carry dense heavy cargo and palletized loads.
| Aircraft type | In service, approx. | Freight positioning | For Chinese shippers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 767-200SF/BDSF | About 9–15 aircraft | Workhorse of UPS European contract services | Links Cologne, East Midlands and major European cargo hubs |
| Boeing 767-300F | About 7 aircraft | European and intercontinental legs for Maersk air freight products | China cargo connects to its European network through European hubs |
| Boeing 777F | 2 aircraft | Intercontinental widebody freighter | Long-haul trunk capacity; peak season space needs early locking |
The European cargo network uses Billund, Cologne Bonn and East Midlands as core nodes and connects major European cargo hubs. China-origin cargo transfers at gateways such as Frankfurt and Amsterdam, then distributes through the European regional network.
| European nodes | Airport code | Network role |
|---|---|---|
| Billund | BLL | Main operating base and core Nordic node |
| Cologne Bonn | CGN | UPS contract operating base, Western European cargo hub |
| East Midlands | EMA | UPS UK operating base, UK node |
| Frankfurt | FRA | China-Europe trunk transfer gateway |
| Amsterdam | AMS | Alternative European transfer gateway |
| Oslo/Copenhagen | OSL/CPH | Nordic regional destination |
Fleet numbers change with Maersk air freight deployment and European network schedules vary with UPS contracts and own-product operating plans; times are local, schedules change seasonally and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Chinese exporters assessing a route into the Nordics, Western Europe and the UK through the Star Air European network can ask Goodhope Freight for a connection plan by destination country, cargo type and time requirement. Truck distribution from Billund to major Nordic cities usually takes one to two working days and from Cologne to major Western European cities one to three working days, and both combine flexibly with air trunk schedules.
With Billund and Cologne as European core nodes, China-origin cargo transfers at gateways such as Frankfurt and Amsterdam, then connects on Star Air freighters to major cargo hubs in the Nordics, Western Europe and Southern Europe. The diagram shows connection paths from Chinese gateways into the European network.
The diagram shows connection relationships only, not actual route distance or schedules. Schedules change seasonally and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Reference airport-to-airport transit time is about 6–10 working days, and total time is usually about 10–15 days. The Frankfurt and Amsterdam transfer legs follow EU transit procedures, and Goodhope Freight coordinates transit storage and document exchange with local ground agents. After arrival at a European node, the Maersk European truck network can distribute cargo to major cities in the Nordics, Western Europe and Southern Europe within one to three working days.
Star Air has no publicly listed scheduled cargo route or own office in China. China cargo connects mainly by a trunk haul from China to Frankfurt or Amsterdam plus a freighter leg from the European hub to nodes such as Billund and Cologne. After Maersk launched its own air freight product in 2022, B767-300F legs between China and the US were flown by third-party operators; the airline itself operates within Europe, so the China-Europe leg needs a European gateway transfer.
Main East China gateway with dense freighter trunk frequencies toward Europe; suited to consolidated shipments of solar modules, electronic equipment and machinery and electrical products.
Core gateway for South China manufacturing; machinery and electrical products, electronics and auto parts ship easily, and Shenzhen cargo can move by road to Hong Kong warehouses.
Complete international cargo network with ample freighter capacity toward Europe; suited to consolidated heavy shipments.
North China gateway handling intercontinental capacity; suited to North China cargo shipping from a nearby airport.
Drawing on the Maersk global logistics network, sea and air can be combined in one supply chain plan with a single booking for Chinese exporters.
After arrival at Billund or Cologne, cargo distributes to major cities in the Nordics, Western Europe and Southern Europe on the Maersk European truck network.
The Billund base connects directly to Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland; cargo from China to the Nordics transfers at Billund with short last-mile distances and fast transit.
The East Midlands base handles UPS cargo toward the UK; cargo from China to the UK connects there and distributes quickly to major cities in England and Scotland.
Star Air is the Maersk group all-cargo airline and draws on the Maersk global logistics network for air and sea-air solutions.
The fleet is mainly Boeing 767-300F and 777F freighters with full-freighter main decks, suited to dense heavy and palletized exports from China.
With Billund, Cologne and East Midlands as core nodes, the network covers major European cargo hubs; cargo from China reaches the Nordics and Western Europe through a European gateway.
Long service on UPS European regional cargo means disciplined handling and stable on-time performance, suited to time-sensitive e-commerce and high-value cargo.
Star Air has no publicly listed own office in China. Chinese exporters with freighter requirements toward the Nordics and Europe should contact the airline's local Chinese agents or work through Goodhope Freight. Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) handles freighter capacity with the Star Air commercial team and European hub ground agents.
| Step | What we handle |
|---|---|
| Step one | Provide commodity, weight, volume, piece dimensions, destination city and time requirement so freighter loading limits can be checked. |
| Step two | Goodhope Freight matches a Chinese origin gateway with a European transfer hub, confirms trunk schedule and rate, and assesses freighter capacity toward Billund or Cologne in parallel. |
| Step three | Cargo flies the trunk service to Frankfurt or Amsterdam, is handed over in transfer, then loads onto a Star Air freighter to the European node. |
| Step four | After arrival in Europe, customs clearance is completed and truck distribution to destinations in the Nordics, Western Europe and Southern Europe is arranged, with exception handling and claims. |
The customer does not deal separately with the trunk carrier, the European hub agent, the Star Air freighter leg and the European customs broker. Goodhope Freight coordinates all of it and itemizes trunk freight, freighter leg charges, fuel surcharge and ground handling. Submit requirements at goodhope86.com.
Goodhope Freight sets out transit time, rate and transfer risk for each routing at the proposal stage, so the customer can decide against the shipping date and budget. Before booking, piece dimensions are checked against freighter door size, hold volume and floor load, ruling out unworkable options before cargo reaches the warehouse. Delays, damage, discrepancies and clearance holds in transit are pursued by Goodhope Freight under carrier rules and air transport conditions, so the customer does not face unfamiliar procedures alone.
For customers combining sea and air, the Maersk group can provide a supply chain plan: pickup at the Chinese factory, ocean to a European base port, then European truck distribution, or a sea-air combination that balances transit and cost. Goodhope Freight compares all-air, sea-air and all-sea options against the customer's delivery deadlines.
Drawing on the Maersk global ocean and air networks, Star Air can support China-Europe sea-air routings that balance transit time and cost, suited to cost-sensitive volume cargo.
The airline has long flown European express cargo for UPS, with stable on-time performance across Europe, suited to e-commerce parcels and time-sensitive high-value exports from China.
Chinese exports to Europe are mainly solar modules, machinery and electrical products, electronic equipment, telecommunications equipment, auto parts and consumer goods; freighter main decks suit palletized volume loads.
Airline information is compiled from the airline website, Maersk public material and industry fleet data; schedules and times are local, change seasonally and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Cargo transferred within the EU or cleared at an EU gateway follows EU customs union rules. Chinese exporters must ensure the commercial invoice, packing list and export declaration agree, and cargo subject to CE marking or similar requirements should be flagged at booking.
Star Air freighter acceptance follows general IATA rules, and exports from China to Europe are mainly standard airworthy cargo. Freighter main deck doors and floor load ratings exceed passenger belly holds, suiting palletized volume cargo and moderately oversized pieces.
| Cargo categories | Notes | China export reference |
|---|---|---|
| General cargo | Machinery and electrical products, consumer goods, textiles and apparel, and similar standard air cargo | Common China-Europe cargo types, booked on freighter procedures |
| Heavy cargo in bulk | Solar modules, machinery and metal products, on pallets | Freighter main deck capacity suits consolidated shipment |
| High-value cargo | Precision instruments, telecommunications equipment, electronic components | High-value cargo declared per shipment and tracked throughout |
| Dangerous goods | Battery-powered products and chemicals are accepted under IATA dangerous goods rules | Compliant declaration documents are required; confirm at the booking stage |
| Temperature-controlled cargo | Pharmaceuticals and food are carried under temperature-control requirements | Temperature control subject to carrier confirmation |
| E-commerce express shipments | Time-sensitive e-commerce parcels and high-value cargo | Drawing on UPS European network on-time performance |
Acceptance standards for each cargo type follow the actual carrier's transport rules; sectors transiting the European Union must also meet EU transfer regulations.
No publicly listed scheduled China route or own office. Cargo from China transfers at European hubs such as Frankfurt and Amsterdam into the European network, and arrangements are confirmed per shipment.
The active fleet is mainly Boeing 767-200SF/BDSF and 767-300F with Boeing 777F widebody freighters; numbers change with Maersk air freight deployment.
Star Air is the Maersk group cargo airline, consolidated and renamed Maersk Air Cargo in 2022, flying Maersk's own air freight products and UPS contract services.
Yes. No direct cargo flight from China to Denmark is operated by the airline, so cargo transfers at a European hub into its European network, coordinated by Goodhope Freight.
The network covers core nodes Billund BLL, Cologne CGN and East Midlands EMA and links Nordic points such as Oslo and Copenhagen, reaching major European cargo hubs.
About 6–10 working days airport to airport, usually about 10–15 days door to door. Actual transit depends on connections, peak season capacity and EU customs clearance.
Freighter main deck doors and floor load ratings exceed passenger belly holds; oversized and overweight pieces are assessed per shipment against freighter limits, with charter options when standard capacity cannot take them.
Yes. Drawing on the Maersk global logistics network, China-Europe sea-air routings balance transit time and cost and suit volume cargo.
Standard cargo needs an air waybill, commercial invoice, packing list and export declaration documents; EU import declarations follow EU customs requirements, and restricted goods need import licenses.
Yes. After arrival at Billund or Cologne, cargo distributes to major cities in the Nordics, Western Europe and Southern Europe on the Maersk European truck network, tracked at every node.
Import duty is payable by the consignee at destination clearance by default; if the shipper is to bear it, a delivered duty paid term can be agreed at booking, and Goodhope Freight can help calculate EU duty and VAT.
Freighter capacity toward Europe is tight in peak season; book two to four weeks ahead to secure space, and Goodhope Freight assesses alternative hubs and carrier combinations at the proposal stage.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) assesses China to Nordic and wider Europe freighter connections, covering trunk booking, European transfer and last-mile truck distribution.
Visit goodhope86.com for air freight optionsDisclaimer: prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) to present public cargo information about Star Air / Maersk Air Cargo. Content is compiled from public sources, for reference only, and does not constitute a contract of carriage or a commitment. Rights in Star Air, Maersk Air Cargo and related names, codes and brand marks belong to their owners. Goodhope Freight is an independent freight forwarder with no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with the airline; capacity, rates and schedules are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.