French shipowner Louis-Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) has clinched a contract to ship Airbus components from China to Canada.
The company said the "multi-year" deal runs from 1 October and involves ro-ros carrying parts for the A220 aircraft from the production plant in Shenyang to the final assembly site in Mirabel.
Subsidiary Louis Dreyfus Freight Solutions is cooperating with car carrier group Wallenius Wilhelmsen on the business.
The French shipowner has 20 years of experience in the transport of A380, A400M and A320 aircraft components.
President Edouard Louis-Dreyfus said: "This contract represents a major step in the development and diversification of the logistics activity of high-added-value cargoes for the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs group.
"It also reinforces our bonds with Airbus, strengthening the relationship established two decades ago."
Wallenius Wilhelmsen will help with both land and maritime transport.
Torbjorn Wist, the car carrier player's acting chief executive, said: "This contract further demonstrates our position as a provider of end-to-end logistics services. We are proud to offer our expertise in delivering high value, out-of-gauge aircraft components between the Asian and North American continents.
The first part of the trip is across land to the port of Dalian, followed by a Pacific crossing via the Panama Canal to reach the east coast of the US.
The parts will then head cross-country from Wallenius Wilhelmsen's own terminal in Baltimore into Canada.
Transport will take between 48 and 50 days and involve two sailings per month.
LDA operates a fleet of ro-ros, while its partner has 130 vessels serving 15 trade routes.
