Air freight booking platform cargo.one is making strides in its global expansion strategy as it signed a letter of intent with Air Canada’s cargo division to offer freight capacity on its cargo booking platform, and to make the airline a blueprint for its regional operations.

The agreement will be finalised by the end of April, and both companies have kicked off the integration phase, with available capacity on flights between Europe to North America expected to go live in the second quarter.

The airline is poised to become the first North American airline on the platform, and Jason Berry, cargo vice president at Air Canada, thinks the partnership will support the carrier’s rapid cargo network expansion.

Air Canada has been ramping up its cargo flights with widebody passenger aircraft and passenger freighters, Payload Asia learned, and got approval to take two 787s out of the desert next month. It will also remove seats from three 777s and two A330s to boost its cargo capacity.

“Given the current capacity constraints out of Europe to North America, cargo.one’s growing user base will now have additional real-time access to much sought-after space at the click of a button,“ said Moritz Claussen, co-founder and managing director of cargo.one.

cargo.one raised more than $60 million in two funding rounds last year to support its rapid expansion, particularly in North America, where it named Chad Tibor as vice president and general manager for Airlines, to shape its supplier growth strategy.

“We look forward to supporting Air Canada Cargo’s growth as it adds more cargo flights and takes delivery of the first two of its freighters later this year,” said Tibor. “We see the Americas as key markets for cargo.one and will continue to invest in long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships with carriers here, with Air Canada as a blueprint,” he added.