Maersk Air Cargo, a unit of integrated container shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk, is terminating its air transport contract with operator Amerijet after deciding to discontinue trans-Pacific flights with Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft and rely on more efficient Boeing 777 jets. Maersk’s all-cargo airline recently notified Amerijet that it will cease all operations on Feb. 28 and terminate its outsourced flight services agreement with Miami-based Amerijet one month before it was set to expire, said Joseph Batten, senior director of flight operations at Amerijet, said Wednesday in a letter to employees obtained by FreightWaves. The decision by Maersk Air Cargo, which represents about 30% of Amerijet’s total flight hours, will force the U.S. carrier to furlough about 35 pilots, about 20% of its pilot workforce, at the end of next month, according to Batten’s message. “This decision was not made lightly. We recognize the talent, dedication, and passion of our crew members, and we understand the uncertainty and impact this creates. Ultimately, this move is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of our organization,” Batten said. A source at Amerijet, who was granted anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press, said Maersk has decided to discontinue 767 operations between Asia and the United States because the planes aren’t suited for long-haul operations and that it plans to sell the three freighters sub-leased to Amerijet. Amazon, which has a large fleet of Boeing 767-300s operated by partner carriers, is expected to buy the Maersk planes, according…
