Maersk Air Cargo (DJ, Billund) has trimmed its US operations connecting Greenville/Spartanburg International via Anchorage Ted Stevens with Yinchuan and parked at least one of its three B767-300Fs acquired last year and operated by Amerijet International (M6, Miami International), Freightwaves has reported.
Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows that N496MM (msn 67027), which is just seven months old, has been idle at Seoul Incheon airport since December 20, 2022. The two other brand-new B767 freighters, N493MM (msn 67025) and N495MM (msn 67026), remain active on the Greensville-Anchorage-Seoul route, although with very low utilisation. The carrier's touted route from Rockford to Seoul has not been launched yet.
The Danish logistics giant refused to comment on the development.
The three B767-300Fs were placed on the Amerijet AOC as the Danish carrier did not have a US Foreign Air Carrier Permit until late 2022. It secured the approval to operate in-house in the US on December 20, 2022, but has yet to use the authorisation. The airline, formerly known as Star Air (Denmark), operates five B767-200(ERBDSF)s, six B767-200(PC)s, one B767-200(SF), three B767-300ER(BDSF)s, and two B767-300Fs. However, all of these aircraft fly exclusively within Europe.
The reduction in Maersk's US operations comes amidst recessionary fears in the country. IATA has said that global demand for air cargo measured in CTKs decreased by 14.9% year over year in January 2023, although the drop in international demand was even higher at 16.2%. The downturn is the strongest in Europe, where it exceeded 20% year-over-year, while in North America, it was just 8.7%.
