China's first commercial cargo hub opens in central China

July 17, 2022, a cargo plane tax at the Ezhou Huahu Airport in Ezhou, central China's Hubei province. PHOTO XINHUA WUHAN - A Belgian all-cargo aircraft loaded with some 100 tons of freight took off at the Ezhou Huahu Airport in central China's Hubei province at around 11 am Saturday.

The opening of the first international route of China's first cargo-focused airport is marked by this flight.

According to the aircraft's operator SF Airlines, China's largest air-cargo carrier, the route is scheduled to provide two round-trip cargo flights each week between China and Europe, adding 400 tons of air express capacity.

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The Ezhou Huahu Airport was put into operation in July 2022. It is positioned as a cargo-focused hub airport with extensive cargo traffic but little passenger traffic. It's expected to open 40 domestic freight routes and about four international freight routes by the end of the year.

SF Airlines' Ezhou Base was officially opened on the same day, and it will provide services for the company and other airlines in the future, according to SF Airlines.