Gone are the days when companies could rely solely on individual transport modes to meet evolving customer and market demands. Port congestion, fluctuating airfreight rates, and geopolitical shifts have all underlined a single, unavoidable truth: logistics providers can no longer afford to operate in silos. Instead, integration—across air, sea, land, and digital platforms—has become the bedrock of modern logistics strategy.
“In response to the growing demand from our customers for agile logistics solutions, the CMA CGM Group launched in March 2021 CMA CGM AIR CARGO,” Damien Mazaudier, CEO of CMA CGM Air Cargo, said. “This new operational and commercial arm is specializing in air freight transportation complementing all the solutions we already provided for our customers. This integrated approach enables the Group to provide tailor-made multimodal solutions to its customers, including last-mile delivery.
A unified logistics network doesn’t just add efficiency—it ensures survival and competitiveness. Whether it’s air cargo supporting maritime delays, or rail linking inland distribution hubs to global airports, it’s the interconnectivity—not the individual performance of each link—that defines success: “Customer proximity is key: we are designing network to serve our customers’ needs. Agility is also part of our Group DNA: we are reacting very promptly to changing market conditions.”
Multimodal Equation
As digital commerce accelerates and customer expectations shift toward immediacy, air cargo offers something no other mode can: speed with global reach. But that speed is only valuable when embedded within a broader ecosystem that allows seamless transitions across the supply chain.
“CMA CGM AIR CARGO marks a significant step in implementing the CMA CGM Group’s strategy to offer comprehensive maritime, land, air, and logistics solutions,” Mazaudier stated. “Unlike many legacy carriers and asset-light players, CMA CGM Air Cargo leverages the global shipping and logistics platform of its parent CMA CGM Group, enabling seamless end-to-end supply chain solutions.”
The strategic value of air cargo becomes even more pronounced in high-stakes sectors such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, and automotive, where time-critical shipments require not just fast transport, but tightly controlled conditions from origin to destination. “In order to improve the management of complex high-value products, we are focusing on efficiency, safety, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction,” Mazaudier noted.
These operational measures may seem granular, but they speak to a larger transformation: the shift from transactional freight to precision logistics. “Automation and digitalization is key… Real-time visibility and data analytics: leveraging IoT sensors and TMS for continuous monitoring of cargo conditions,” Mazaudier added.
Unified Logistics
Integrated logistics networks are also critical to achieving long-term sustainability goals—especially in sectors like aviation that face intense scrutiny over emissions. For airfreight to play a sustainable role in future supply chains, it must operate in lockstep with optimised routing, reduced redundancies, and smarter resource allocation across all transport modes.
“As a part of our commitment to reducing environmental impact, CMA CGM AIR CARGO is implementing a series of digital and operational efficiency measures,” Mazaudier said. These include everything from optimized flight paths to minimizing unnecessary fuel loads.
“From joining CO2 Connect to modernizing our fleet and optimizing operations, we remain focused on reducing our environmental footprint for a cleaner, greener tomorrow,” she continued.
Moreover, digital transformation is rapidly amplifying the benefits of integration. Platforms that offer real-time booking, inventory tracking, and predictive analytics are giving logistics providers the intelligence to adapt quickly. The result is a logistics landscape where responsiveness is automated, emissions are minimized through system-wide planning, and value is delivered not through isolated services, but through orchestrated, multimodal networks.
Mazaudier highlighted this shift: “We are enhancing our digital reach through partnerships marketplaces… allowing freight forwarders worldwide to book capacity instantly via a seamless digital platform.
“In the next 3–5 years, CGM Air Cargo aims to become a global air freight player with an expanded, modern fleet, digitally enabled services, and deep integration into the Group’s broader logistics ecosystem.”
