A court in Walloon Brabant has authorised the transfer of Air Belgium’s cargo activities to French maritime logistics group CMA CGM, the airline confirmed on Thursday.
“The offer of the CMA CGM maritime group includes the complete resumption of the cargo activities of the airline Air Belgium, with its fleet of 4 aircraft: two Airbus A330-243F and two Boeing B747-8F,” it said in a statement.
The resumption of cargo activities under the French group would preserve 186 out of 401 jobs at Brussels International Airport (Zaventem) and Liège airport, including administrative, operation, ground and flight personnel.
The confirmation of the French takeover bid comes amid a legal battle over the future of the company after a bid by Air One Belgium, a consortium of companies including PESO Aviation Management and Air One Holding International, was rejected by a Belgian court after months of delays.
Air One Belgium had promised to save 197 of the jobs at Air Belgium. The consortium claims that it had fulfilled all the conditions of its takeover bid and will challenge the decision in court.
