French logistics group CMA CGM, primarily a maritime cargo transport company, has submitted an official offer to take over the cargo activities of struggling Air Belgium, the airline announced on Wednesday.
On 6 March, following months of delays and stalled negotiations, a court ruled that a bid by Air One Belgium, a consortium of companies including PESO Aviation Management and Air One Holding International, would no longer be permitted to take over the activities of Air Belgium.
The court revoked permission granted in December 2024 for Air Belgium to transfer its activities to the consortium, reopening the call for offers until 27 March.
Air One Belgium, the original contender to take over the Belgian airline, which has struggled to stay airborne following several turbulent years during the Covid-19 pandemic, has appealed the decision to reject its takeover bid. It states that it has fulfilled all of its obligations to complete the takeover and plans to dispute the decision at the court of appeal in Brussels on 3 April.
The new bid by the French logistics group will be examined by the business tribunal of Walloon Brabant next Thursday. According to sources close to the acquisition, there are several bids on the table for the takeover of Air Belgium.
CMA CGM – a group with which Air Belgium has previously collaborated – plans to snap up the cargo activities of the airline despite the ongoing legal uncertainty surrounding the existing Air One Belgium bid. The group would retain the Air Belgium name and brand for the cargo activities using Air Belgium's four cargo aircraft.
It is still unknown whether the French bidder will preserve jobs at the airline. Under plans submitted by Air One Belgium, 197 of the 401 workers based at Brussels Airport would be retained.
