The parent company of shipping giant Maersk is launching a new air freight division and investing in new planes to support the venture.

The move is aimed at making Maersk's services more agile, while boosting flexibility for customers looking to to tackle time-critical supply chain challenges, AP Moller – Maersk said in a statement.

The new air freight company is the result of the existing in-house aircraft operator, Star Air, which has transferred activities into Maersk Air Cargo.