China Cargo Airlines joins Changi Airport's cargo network

Third all-cargo carrier to commence operations to Changi this year with 12 weekly flights.

Changi Airport Group will welcome another cargo carrier to its network on Saturday (9 October), when China Cargo Airlines commences operations to Changi Airport. The Shanghai-based airline – a joint venture between China Eastern Airlines and China Ocean Shipping – is the third cargo carrier to commence operations to Singapore this year, following Malaysia’s Transmile Air and Indonesia’s Tri-MG Airlines. It is also the fifth new airline to operate physical flights to Changi in 2010.

China Cargo Airlines will operate 12 weekly flights on Boeing 777-200F and MD-11F aircraft, linking Singapore with Bangkok and Shanghai Pudong. The flights will operate daily, save for Mondays. China Cargo’s operations bring the number of freighters at Changi to 16. It will increase the number of all-cargo flights between Singapore and China to about 90 per week.

The new services commence as cargo traffic continues on its uptrend. For the first eight months of 2010, Changi Airport’s cargo throughput has risen 15% compared with last year, with some 1.19 million tonnes moved. In the same period, cargo carriage between Singapore and China has grown 25%. China is one of Singapore’s top three markets for cargo, according to a Changi Airport report.

Changi Airport Group’s Executive Vice President, Air Hub Development, Mr Yam Kum Weng, said, “We are delighted to welcome China Cargo Airlines, a leading Chinese allcargo carrier, to our vibrant air cargo community at Changi Airport. China is a fast growing and major cargo market for Singapore. Total airfreight between the two nations registered impressive double digit growth even during the economic downturn in 2009.

China Cargo Airlines can leverage Singapore as a major gateway to capitalise on intra-Asia trade opportunities with ASEAN countries, India and Australia. We look forward to a strong partnership with China Cargo Airlines and to support their future growth plans from Changi.”