Maersk Launches New Air Cargo Service Between Chicago and China

Maersk Air Cargo is launching a new air cargo service between Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) and Zhengzhou, China. This new route will result in Maersk temporarily pausing its existing service between Shenyang, China, and Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in South Carolina.

Starting next Monday, the new route will operate three times per week, with a refueling stop in Anchorage, according to Kevin Doell, Maersk’s media relations manager for North America. This adjustment aims to bolster Maersk's position as a midmarket scheduled cargo carrier and enhance its network footprint in response to evolving customer needs.

The temporary suspension of the Shenyang-GSP flights, effective June 1, allows Maersk to redeploy the Boeing 767-300 freighter to the new Chicago Rockford-Zhengzhou route. This shift is expected to be temporary, with plans to resume the Shenyang-GSP service in August. During the interim, Maersk will utilize its existing infrastructure at RFD and commercial capacity on other carriers to ensure minimal disruption for its customers.

This development is part of Maersk Air Cargo's broader strategy to become an integrated, multimodal logistics service provider. Since entering the U.S. air cargo market in October 2022, Maersk has expanded to nine flights per week. The company owns the Boeing 767 aircraft but outsources its operation to Miami-based Amerijet International. Currently, six flights operate between Rockford, Illinois, and Hangzhou, China, with stops at Seoul's Incheon Airport.

The new route is expected to support the growing e-commerce demand in the Midwest, a market with 17 million consumers and significant inventory pull from major distribution centers. Notably, Walmart announced plans to build a 1.2 million-square-foot perishable distribution center in Belvidere, Illinois, about 12 miles east of Rockford, scheduled to open in 2027. Additionally, automaker Stellantis has committed $100 million to a new parts distribution center in Belvidere.