Competition among top container lines is turning into an air battle. Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), the world’s largest shipping line by capacity, is bringing in four Boeing 777-200 freighters to anchor its new MSC Air Cargo operation.

That puts MSC in line with moves by Maersk Line and CMA CGM to launch air cargo operations in hopes of getting bigger shares of shippers’ transportation spending. The Loadstar reports the new MSC business is starting with four wide-body aircraft that will be operated by Atlas Air starting in the fourth quarter under what the two companies called a long-term agreement.

The shipping lines face challenges in the skies, with airfreight volumes sliding since early summer. 

Research group WorldACD reports that pricing continued a lengthy downturn in the first two weeks of September as global demand was off 11% year-over-year while capacity was up 6%.