SF Airlines Launches First International Cargo Route from Ezhou Huahu Airport

At 11:00 am Beijing time on April 1, 2023, a B747-400ERF aircraft operated by SF Airlines took off from Ezhou Huahu Airport carrying approximately 105 tons of cargo bound for Liège Airport in Belgium, marking the official launch of Ezhou Huahu Airport's first international cargo route "Ezhou-Liège".

The "Ezhou-Liège" route transports general cargo, e-commerce goods, and express shipments in both directions. The inaugural flight is expected to arrive in Liège at 23:00 on April 1. After unloading and reloading, the return flight will arrive back in Ezhou around 12:00 noon on April 2. The route is scheduled to operate twice weekly, providing over 400 tons of weekly air cargo capacity between China and Europe. SF Airlines' B747-400ERF freighter can complete round-trip flights between Ezhou, China and Liège, Belgium within a single day, establishing a secure and efficient air logistics channel for China-Europe trade while supporting Ezhou Airport's development as a rapid logistics hub with "nationwide overnight delivery and global connectivity within two days".

As SF Airlines' first international cargo route from Ezhou, "Ezhou-Liège" represents the official commencement of the airline's international operations at Ezhou Airport and its first step toward global connectivity from this hub. Since 2020, SF Airlines has operated routes including "Changsha-Liège", "Wuhan-Liège", "Wuhan-Liège-Haikou", "Wuhan-Liège-Beijing", "Ezhou-Shenzhen", and "Ezhou-Shanghai", accumulating valuable operational experience that contributed to the launch of the "Ezhou-Liège" route.

SF Airlines' Ezhou base officially commenced operations on April 1, providing comprehensive services including operations control, ground handling, administrative support, professional training, equipment maintenance, and aviation parts logistics for SF Airlines and other on-site carriers. The base features dedicated ground handling personnel and equipment, utilizing intelligent systems for resource allocation to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality ground services. The Airlines Operation Center (AOC), serving as the "brain" of airline operations, is being continuously strengthened by SF Airlines to establish a "dual-core operations command system" between Ezhou and Shenzhen for unified dispatch and enhanced flight operation quality. Additionally, SF Airlines has established an aviation training center in Huanggang offering comprehensive professional training and living facilities, which will cultivate specialized talent to support Ezhou's hub operations.

As of March 26, SF Airlines' freighter fleet has expanded to 80 aircraft, including 3 B747-400ERFs, 19 B767-300BCFs, 41 B757-200Fs, and 17 B737-300/400Fs, with wide-body aircraft accounting for nearly 30% of the fleet. Currently serving over 90 domestic and international destinations (including historical destinations), SF Airlines has gradually built a cargo route network that "covers China, radiates across Asia, and extends to Europe and America". The expanding fleet and network advantages will strongly support Ezhou Airport's development of domestic and international cargo routes and its accelerated integration into the "dual circulation" development pattern.

Moving forward, SF Airlines will continue to advance its operational layout at Ezhou Airport, supporting the airport's development into a world-class air cargo hub. By leveraging the hub airport's gateway function and scale effects, the airline will persistently deliver economic and social value through its air logistics services.