SF Airlines secures DOT approval for US-China operations

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved an exemption request from Shenzhen-based SF Airlines to operate cargo service between the U.S. and China.

SF initially requested the exemption on May 13, as reported by our sister publication, Cargo Facts. The carrier was seeking to operate a thrice-weekly scheduled service between Hangzhou (HGH) and New York (JFK) using SF’s 747-400 freighter capacity. At the time, SF was seeking to begin operations in September.

With the approval, SF is newly authorized for cargo operations between China and the U.S. and on to other points through Dec. 4, 2020. Whether SF Airlines expects to expand its U.S. operations beyond this new exemption remains to be seen, but its parent company, SF Holdings, recently earmarked $212 million to continue growing its fleet via additional aircraft purchases.