Chinese stakeholders boost regional connectivity

Chinese stakeholders are boosting connectivity from the region with two new routes. Shenzhen, China-based forwarder Proair Logistics this week launched a thrice-weekly charter route connecting Harin Taiping International Airport (HRB) in China to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) using the belly capacity on a Hainan Airlines-operated 789 aircraft, adding roughly 45 tonnes of additional capacity to the market, according to flight-tracking software. Although a Proair spokesperson did not confirm to Air Cargo World how long the capacity agreement with Hainan Airlines will last, they noted the charter route will operate “until further notice.” The route, which will operate Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, transported approximately 41.1 tonnes of cross-border e-commerce goods and general cargo on its maiden flight, including garments and electronic accessories, according to an Aug. 23 LinkedIn post by Proair. [caption id="attachment_57131848" align="alignright" width="467"] Photo/SF Airlines[/caption] “This is an important initiative of Heilongjiang Airport Group to implement the deployment of the provincial Party Committee and government [and] promote the construction of the Harbin international freight hub,” the forwarder said in the post. “Harbin is the city with the shortest air transportation distance between China and Southeast Asia and North America … and it is also the appropriate airport for the technical stopover of the airlines from Southeast Asia to North America.” Fellow Shenzhen-based company SF Airlines also launched a new route this week between Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH) and Liege Airport (LGG), according to an Aug. 22 LinkedIn post by LGG Vice President of Sales and Marketing Torsten Wefers. The weekly route transports a mixture of general cargo and e-commerce using a 747-400F , Wefers told Air Cargo World . He further noted that ground handling at LGG is being managed by Worldwide Flight Services, which also signed a three-year cargo handling agreement at the airport with Beijing-based Air China earlier this month. Asia-Pacific connectivity grows Rising fuel prices, worsening global inflation, declining exports and ongoing supply chain disruptions continue to impact cargo traffic for stakeholders with operations in the Asia-Pacific region. In June, for example, carriers in the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported a 4.1% year-over-year decline in cargo traffic , following a four-month trend. See also : Asian markets drive aircraft demand However, stakeholders continue to invest in cargo opportunities in the region, including new routes to boost cargo connectivity following the collapse of passenger travel in early 2020. For instance, Hong Kong-based forwarder Kerry Logistics increased its charter frequency between Hong Kong (HKG) and Huntsville, Ala. (HSV) this month, and also added thrice-weekly flights between Hanoi (HAN) and HSV in July. Lufthansa Cargo is also looking to expand its 2022-2023 winter flight schedule — set to take effect Oct. 30 — between Asia and North America. Meanwhile, demand and capacity levels from North Asia differ depending on the trade lane, according to Crane Worldwide Logistics’ August Market Update. North Asia to Americas — including Latin America — and EMEA, for instance, are recorded at normal levels. However, North Asia to India and South Asia trade lanes are seeing rates increasing as well as higher demand, limited capacity and increasing rates. Join Air Cargo World for our next webinar, “Forward Thinking: Best practices for freight forwarder success,” on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 11 a.m. ET. Click here for more information and to register.

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