Air Cargo Carriers

What Air Cargo Carriers does

Air Cargo Carriers, LLC is a privately held U.S. air freight operator founded in 1986 and headquartered at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company runs scheduled cargo routes and 24/7 on-demand charter services across the Continental United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean from two operational hubs in Milwaukee and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Its anchor customer relationships include the U.S. Postal Service (a multi-year intra-Caribbean mail contract worth up to $71 million through July 2028), FedEx, DHL, ABX Air, and USDA Forestry Service pilot-training programs.

The company operates the world's largest civilian fleet of Shorts Brothers 330 and 360 turboprop aircraft (30 aircraft as of 2023), which it has built up over four decades through organic growth and acquisitions (Starlight Express in 1992; The Telford Group in 2009; M&N Aviation in 2014). ACC's technology moat rests on FAA Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for passenger-to-cargo conversions, Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) rights on dozens of Shorts components, an FAA-certified turbine engine overhaul facility in Hartford, WI, and one of only two Shorts simulators in existence worldwide. These assets support a vertically integrated portfolio spanning scheduled freight, charter, parts sales (listed on ILS and PartsBase), MRO services, and FAR Part 61/135 pilot training.

ACC monetizes through five streams: long-term contract freight (subscription/recurring), on-demand charter (transactional), parts sales (transactional), aircraft maintenance (professional services), and pilot training (professional services). Distribution is sales-led and direct — primarily via 24/7 phone-based charter booking, direct enterprise sales to USPS and integrators, and parts listings on global aviation marketplaces. The company does not disclose revenue publicly, has no venture or institutional funding rounds on record, and is independently held under ACC Holding, Inc.

Name

Air Cargo Carriers

Legal name

Air Cargo Carriers, LLC

Website

https://aircargocarriers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Air Cargo Carriers operates the world's largest civilian Shorts Brothers 330/360 turboprop cargo fleet (30 aircraft), running scheduled routes, 24/7 charter, parts sales, MRO, and pilot training across the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean for USPS, FedEx, DHL, and other enterprise customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air Freight Services

NAICS

Scheduled Freight Air Transportation (481112), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212), Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

General Cargo Air Freight Carriers (Scheduled & Charter) (TLADAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Express / Time-Definite Air Cargo Carriers (TLADAAAB), Air Cargo Charter Specialists (On-Demand) (TLADAAAE)

Keywords

• Air freight transport
• Cargo charter services
• Aircraft maintenance
• Pilot training programs
• Aircraft parts sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Freight Operations: Long-term contracts for scheduled cargo transport, including USPS intra-Caribbean mail transport contract worth up to $71 million through July 2028.
2. On-Demand Charter Services: On-demand air transport services available 24/7, 365 days per year for both scheduled clients and charter sector customers within Continental US and Caribbean.
3. Parts Sales: Sale of Shorts aircraft components including doors, windows, flight controls, stabilizers, air ducts from world's largest civilian Shorts parts inventory. Also provides PMA (Parts Manufacturer Approval) parts as less expensive alternatives.
4. Aircraft Maintenance Services: Full maintenance services provided to company fleet and other Shorts operators worldwide, including inspections, avionics installs, engine/prop changes, and sheet metal work.
5. Pilot and Maintenance Training: FAR Part 61 and 135 training programs; training services provided to other Shorts operators including USDA Forestry Service pilots.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Air Cargo Carriers provides scheduled and on-demand air freight transportation using the world's largest civilian fleet of Shorts Brothers 330/360 and SD3-30/SD3-60 turboprop cargo aircraft, serving major express delivery firms and the U.S. Postal Service across the Continental US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The company also operates a 24/7 on-demand charter service and offers complementary aircraft maintenance, Shorts parts sales, and FAR Part 61/135 pilot training programs from facilities in Milwaukee, WI and San Juan, PR.

Product overview

Air Cargo Carriers is an air freight operator providing a portfolio of cargo transport and aviation services. Core offerings include scheduled routes and on-demand charter cargo flights, aircraft maintenance and part sales for Shorts aircraft, pilot training under FAR Part 61 and 135, and career pathway programs. The company operates the world's largest civilian fleet of Shorts Brothers turboprop aircraft (330, 360, SD3-30, SD3-60 models) and Cessna Caravans. Services are delivered through centralized hubs in Milwaukee, WI and San Juan, PR, with extensive route networks across the Continental US, Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scheduled Routes Scheduled air freight transport services operating throughout the Continental United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico, with an above 98% on-time dispatch rate, primarily serving major express delivery companies and the U.S. Postal Service.
• On Demand Charter On-demand air cargo charter services providing 24/7 personalized assistance for freight transport within the Continental US and Caribbean regions, available 365 days per year to scheduled and charter sector customers.
• Aircraft Maintenance Full-service aircraft maintenance for Shorts aircraft including inspections, avionics installs, engine and prop changes, sheet metal work, and turbine engine overhauls with Hot Section Inspections, delivered from facilities in Milwaukee, WI and San Juan, PR for both the company's fleet and other Shorts operators worldwide.
• Part Sales Sale of Shorts aircraft parts from the world's largest civilian Shorts spares inventory, including doors, windows, flight controls, stabilizers, air ducts, and PMA-approved parts as less expensive alternatives to OEM Shorts components.
• FAR Part 61 and 135 Training Pilot training programs under FAR Part 61 and 135 regulations, including in-house flight training device and Shorts simulator training, delivered by Air Cargo Carriers with over 30 years of industry experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98%+ on-time dispatch rate maintained consistently

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ABX AircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2019Flow-through program enabling Air Cargo Carriers crewmembers to progress careers to ABX Air as Boeing 767 freighter pilots. Requirements include 2 years with ACC, 1,000 hours PIC on Shorts 360, ATP Certificate (paid by ACC), and Chief Pilot recommendation. Provides guaranteed class date at ABX upon completion.
• M&N Aviation Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Headquartered in San Juan, PR. Acquired in 2014 with 8 aircraft (Shorts, Caravans and Jets) to expand Caribbean footprint and private executive passenger charter services.
• The Telford Group, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Acquired by ACC Holding, Inc. in 2009 to increase value-added services offered to customers.
• USDA Forestry ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilot training partnership for USDA FS Smokejumpers operating SD3-60 Sherpa aircraft. Training provided at Missoula, MT (Region 1) and Redmond, OR (Region 6) locations for wildfire fighting and forest management missions.
• North Star Air CargominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated airline operating transferred Skyvan aircraft. Air Cargo Carriers provides operating assistance including dispatching, spares provisioning and other services. North Star operates lower-volume routes that can be upgraded to larger Shorts 330's and 360's as volumes grow.
• Omni Air InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlow-through program partner offering guaranteed interview opportunities for ACC captains transitioning to widebody aircraft charters and ACMI wet leases.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mountain Air Cargo: Subsidiary of U.S. private firm operating Cessna 208 freighters on FedEx feeder routes. Direct peer in single-engine turboprop feeder cargo for integrators.
• Ameriflight: Largest US Part 135 scheduled cargo carrier, operating a large turboprop fleet on feeder routes for major express integrators. Most direct competitor to Air Cargo Carriers in scheduled feeder cargo with turboprops.
• CSA Air: Part 135 cargo carrier serving DHL and other integrators on regional feeder routes in the Eastern US. Comparable in scale, customer profile, and turboprop operating model.
• Wiggins Airways: Massachusetts-based Part 135 cargo carrier operating Cessna Caravans and similar freighters on East Coast integrator feeder routes. Direct peer in regional scheduled cargo.
• Alpine Air Express: Regional Part 135 cargo operator running scheduled and ad-hoc routes for integrators (UPS, DHL) across the Western US with a Beech 1900 and similar turboprop fleet. Direct peer in regional feeder cargo.
• Baron Aviation Services: Part 135 cargo operator running Cessna Caravan feeder routes for FedEx and UPS across the Southeastern US. Comparable size, customer base, and turboprop fleet.
• Northern Air Cargo: Alaska-based Part 121/135 cargo carrier operating 737 freighters and B1900D cargo aircraft for integrator and charter customers. Peer in regional/charter cargo with similar customer profile.

Broad incumbents

• USA Jet Airlines: Part 135/121 cargo carrier operating MD-80 and other aircraft for integrator and charter customers. Larger, broader-incumbent peer in the on-demand/express cargo space.
• ABX Air: Larger cargo carrier operating Boeing 767 freighters, primarily for DHL; also an ACC flow-through career partner. Comparable as a cargo customer/partner though materially larger and on widebody aircraft.
• Kalitta Air: Large US cargo airline operating 747 and 767 freighters for charter and integrator customers. Broad incumbent in the same air cargo industry with overlapping customers but very different scale and aircraft type.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvWu6H2zH83nDc7HEmr35sQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/aircargocarriers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/air-cargo-carriers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Air Cargo Carriers