SF Airlines launches "Ezhou=Abu Dhabi" international cargo route

At approximately 2:00 a.m. Beijing time on August 16, 2023, a B747-400 freighter operated by SF Airlines took off from Ezhou Huahu Airport carrying over 90 tons of cargo bound for Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. This marked the official launch of the "Ezhou-Abu Dhabi" international cargo route, SF Airlines' first freight route from Ezhou to the Middle East.

In April of this year, SF Airlines partnered with Etihad Airways to jointly develop the "Wuhan-Abu Dhabi" international route, connecting their respective cargo networks and enhancing international logistics capabilities. By June, the two airlines had signed a memorandum of cooperation to further deepen their collaboration, jointly establishing the "Ezhou-Abu Dhabi" route. Leveraging the cargo hub functions of both Ezhou Huahu Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport, this new route creates an efficient logistics channel for trade between China and the UAE, injecting fresh momentum into economic exchanges while supporting the Belt and Road Initiative.

Operated by a B747-400 freighter, the "Ezhou-Abu Dhabi" route is scheduled for one weekly flight, providing over 200 tons of round-trip air freight capacity each week. Express parcels, e-commerce goods, and general cargo departing Ezhou in the early hours of Wednesday morning can arrive in Abu Dhabi by that same morning, while imports from Abu Dhabi reach Ezhou the following dawn. This offers more convenient and reliable air logistics services for production and consumer markets in both countries.

Since the beginning of this year, SF Airlines has successively launched international routes from Ezhou to Liege (Belgium), Chennai (India), Delhi (India), Los Angeles (USA), New York (USA), Frankfurt (Germany), and Abu Dhabi (UAE), gradually forming a route network radiating from Ezhou to Europe, South Asia, North America, and West Asia. These efforts contribute to Ezhou Huahu Airport's development as a world-class air cargo hub, supporting the city's growth in aviation-suited industries and airport-adjacent economies while establishing an "aerial gateway." Since the opening of Ezhou Huahu Airport's first international cargo route on April 1, and with strong support from customs, border inspection, and other on-site units, SF Airlines' international cargo throughput at Ezhou has exceeded 14,000 tons.

Moving forward, SF Airlines will continue to strengthen its international logistics and supply chain services, expanding global routes in response to market demand. Through high-quality services, the company aims to support the high-quality development of aviation logistics and export-oriented economies across regions.