YTO to launch China-Malaysia ops for Cainiao next month

YTO Cargo Airlines said it will launch a service between Changsha (CSX) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) on behalf of Chinese e-giant Alibaba’s logistics arm, Cainiao, in July. In the second half of the year, YTO Cargo Airlines will also seek to expand its network to Pakistan, while increasing frequencies to Saigon (SGN) and Manila (MNL). […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• June 7, 2019

Cainiao shifts focus to import logistics as trade war intensifies

China-based Alibaba Group made no attempt to avoid discussion of the trade war following the release of its Q419 earnings. Instead, during a call with analysts this week, company CEO Daniel Zhang called the tense negotiations between the United States and China, “an opportunity for the Chinese economy.” Rather than focus on export declines, “China […]

• Charles Kauffman
• May 21, 2019

Atran’s new Cainiao cross-border flight one piece to carrier’s 737-800BCF puzzle

Russia-based Atran will operate a weekly scheduled flight between Hangzhou (HGH) and Riga (RIX) via Moscow Vnukovo (VKO) and other intermediate airports for Alibaba’s logistics-arm, Cainiao. The flight will utilize the carrier’s sole 737-800BCF, which Atran added to its fleet in January (32616, ex-NOK air) on lease from GECAS [FAT 004768]. Although the new route […]

• Charles Kauffman
• May 20, 2019

CFA: Alibaba planning additional charter flights to accommodate growth [VIDEO]

Last month at Cargo Facts Asia in Shanghai, Terry Xie, Head of Global Linehaul & Planning, Cainiao, told conference delegates that the smart logistics platform expects that as cross-border e-commerce volumes grow, it will rely on an increasing number of charter flights to meet demand. “When we try to plan our network globally, there are […]

• Charles Kauffman
• May 9, 2019

Cainiao, Volga-Dnepr discuss e-commerce impact on load balance [VIDEO]

During a roundtable panel discussion at the 8th annual Cargo Facts Asia symposium held earlier this month in Shanghai, executives from Cainiao and the Volga-Dnepr Group discussed whether e-commerce might one day be the key to balanced loads on freighter aircraft. After all, freighters, just like passenger aircraft, need to fly roundtrip. “Load imbalance has […]

• Charles Kauffman
• April 30, 2019

Alibaba acquires 14% stake in STO Express

E-commerce giant Alibaba Group will take a 14% stake in Chinese STO Express through a US$693 million deal. The move strengthens Alibaba’s access to STO’s network, while the new surge of investment will likely help the express carrier in its aims to grow its aircraft fleet.   STO Express announced that its controlling shareholder plans to set up a new […]

• Chelsea Toczauer
• March 11, 2019

Chinese fiscal reform could be a boon to e-commerce, says Alibaba

The Chinese Government’s sudden affinity for fiscal policy expansion is expected to boost consumer consumption and online business activity from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through a series of pro-consumption fiscal policies, said Joe Tsai, EVP, Alibaba Group. Such fiscal policies also allay fears that new “e-commerce policies” – which aim to make gray-market transactions […]

• Charles Kauffman
• January 30, 2019

Volga-Dnepr Group’s cross-border cooperation with Cainiao reveals long-term ambitions at Liège

Cainiao, the logistics arm of e-commerce giant Alibaba, has named Volga-Dnepr Group its “preferred carrier for airlift capacity and logistics services” and will be granted “guaranteed access” to the Russia-based conglomerate’s fleet of forty-one aircraft, according to a joint release detailing a recently signed MoU between the two companies. For the Group and its cargo […]

• Charles Kauffman
• December 17, 2018