China Southern and Air France-KLM intensify their cargo cooperation

China Southern Airlines Cargo (CZ Cargo) and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) are to intensify their strategic cooperation that could ultimately lead to an integrated commercial and operational cargo joint venture between Europe and China.
The cargo arms of two major passenger carriers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on strategic cooperation between the two parties.
Zhao Fengsheng, senior vice president of China Southern Cargo, said: “Signing of this MoU leads to a new phase of cooperation between us, we anticipate concrete result coming out of this.”
Marcel de Nooijer, executive vice president of AFKLMP Cargo: “We continuously want to create more value to our customers, and in doing so we are very excited to deepen the cooperation with our strategic partner China Southern Cargo. This new phase is good news for our customers”.
China Southern Cargo operates 12 Boeing 777 freighters and two Boeing 747 freighters. AFKLM Cargo has cargo main deck capacity on two B777Fs, four Boeing 747-400Fs and nine B747-400 Combi aircraft.
The French carrier said that its ambition for the next four years is to “jointly investigate and exploit the available opportunities in the air cargo market”.
It also highlighted the main strategic aims:
“ To expand our existing cooperation and build on our mutual experience to connect our cargo business in China, Europe and beyond markets. This will also enable us to continue to use our membership of the SkyTeam Cargo Alliance to maximum advantage.
“To connect CZ’s strong position in China and Asia Pacific region with AFKLMP’s strong position in Europe, Africa and the Trans-Atlantic area, possibly by sharing capacity and space agreements.
“To combine CZ and AFKLMP Cargo networks (belly and main deck product) to offer high frequency services via our hubs at Guangzhou, Shanghai, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol.
“To provide easy access to each other’s capacity within this combined network cooperation and explore each other’s ground service facilities at home base hubs, which might support quick interline transfers (one roof concept).”
And finally: “To increase mail and express business opportunities between China, Europe and the US.
“Ultimately this could lead to an integrated commercial and operational cargo cooperation model (Joint Venture) between Europe and China.