JD Airlines, the air cargo division of JD Logistics, has opened its first international all-cargo route between China’s Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. 

A B737-800BCF cargo aircraft successfully carried out the first round-trip flight on 19 September, marking a pivotal moment for JD Airlines since it started operating in October 2022.  

The Chinese carrier is working with airline service company CSAA to operate the route three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The carrier said the route is optimized to primarily transport cross-border e-commerce parcels from China to Vietnam, whilst facilitating the shipment of key agricultural exports like fruit and seafood on the return trip. 

In a post, Vietjet Air Cargo congratulated JD Airlines for opening the new route: “We are so excited to be JD ‘s first interline partner in Vietnam, collaborating to bring e-commerce goods via the VietJet Air Cargo network. This cooperation strengthens connections and enhances opportunities in e-commerce and import-export activities between the two countries and globally.”

JD Airlines has successfully established an expansive air cargo network that interconnects regions in the north, south, and east China via the strategic location of Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. The company said it plans to explore additional international routes connecting to key markets in Southeast Asia, South Asia, South Korea, and Japan, among other regions.  

JD Logistics has been developing its air cargo division in collaboration with airline partners since 2017. It now has an extensive network of over 1,000 air transportation routes, covering more than 100 airports worldwide. This network delivers a coverage rate of more than 95 percent for its express air delivery services across multiple cities in China.