Jade Cargo International last month operated its fi rst fl ight into Frankfurt when the Chinese cargo carrier, operating a B747-400ERF, touched down at Europe’s biggest freight airport.

The freighter’s arrival highlighted the fi rst non-stop service from Frankfurt to Shenzhen, the Chinese metropolis and home to eleven million people. The city is situated in the heart of the Pearl River Delta, China’s leading production and commercial centre.

On the Frankfurt service, Jade Cargo International and Lufthansa Cargo are sharing the freighter’s total capacity of around 100 tonnes. Lufthansa Cargo will be marketing the fl ight’s capacity ex Frankfurt to Shenzhen exclusively.

Jade Cargo International is already serving Barcelona, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Luxembourg, Brescia, Shanghai, Seoul and Osaka with its fl eet of four 747-400ERF freighters. The Chinese cargo carrier is planning to add trans-Pacifi c connections to its fl ight schedules in autumn 2007.

Shenzhen Airlines owns 51 percent of Jade Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo has a 25 percent stake and DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft a 24 percent shareholding in the Chinese carrier. Jade Cargo is the fi rst airline in China to be co-owned by foreign investors.