MSC Air Cargo has conducted its inaugural flight between Milan Malpensa and Tokyo Narita and revealed more new connections are on the way.
The call at Milan has been added to MSC's service connecting North America with Europe and Asia.
The weekly Boeing 777 freighter service will now operate on a loop of Liege, Narita, Xiamen, Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Liege, Milan, Narita, Xiamen, ORD and Liege.
MSC said the new flights were firsts for both Italy and Japan.
The connection will primarily focus on exporting high-value Italian products, including luxury fashion and accessories, destined for the Far East markets.
Jannie Davel, senior vice president of MSC Air Cargo, said: “We are delighted to have celebrated this significant inaugural flight dedicated to the Italian market alongside our clients. We are even more pleased to provide valuable Italian goods with an efficiency and weekly connection to some of today's most vibrant markets for high-value product exports.
"MSC Air Cargo is in the early stages of development, and we have plans for significant investments to build and create more air transport solutions designed for products that need to reach their final destination at greater efficiency and as a top priority, including pharmaceuticals, perishable goods, or even automotive items.
"We want to enable the Italian market with even more options and ability to business their trading partners supporting national export”.
Looking ahead, the carrier will add further new calls in November.
The airline said that starting next month it would connect Quito (UIO) to Liege twice per week, in addition to Zaragoza to Mexico City on a weekly basis.
The new weekly route will now operate: Liege, Incheon, Xiamen, Mexico City (NLU), UIO, Liege, Zaragoza, NLU, UIO, Liege.
The carrier's flights are operated by Atlas Air and the addition of new flights follows the delivery of the firm's second 777F back in July.
In total, Atlas Air will operate four 777Fs on behalf of MSC.
The shipping group has also bought a majority stake in Milan-based airfreight carrier AlisCargo Airlines.
https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/freighter-operator/atlas-takes-delivery-of-second-777f-for-msc-air-cargo-operations/
