Cargo First announce the launch of their new route with European Cargo from Chengdu in China to Bournemouth Airport.
Bournemouth Airport’s Cargo First is celebrating the start of a new regular service between China and the United Kingdom as part of a strategic partnership to grow the airport’s cargo operations.
Shenzhen Sharing Express Logistic-Tech Ltd (SSELT) has launched the first all-cargo route between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) in China and Bournemouth Airport (BOH) in the United Kingdom. The company will initially offer three flights per week, with plans to gradually increase the frequency to five flights per week.
The new service is operated by Bournemouth-based European Cargo using its fleet of all-cargo A-340 wide-bodied freighters, each with a capacity of 70 tonnes.
The new route has received support from the China Council for the Promotion of National Trade and China Post, offering a solution for south west China’s e-commerce sellers to reach the UK market. SSELT is also targeting UK exporters on return legs, supporting the flow of goods to the China market.
Bournemouth Airport managing director Steve Gill, said the collaboration with European Cargo has proved the airport’s status as a viable alternative gateway to London and the South East for commercial air cargo.
“Cross-border e-commerce continues to experience strong growth and we are seeing a lot of providers like SSELT scouting for alternatives to the London hubs because they want airports that can handle that growth into the future.”
For European Cargo, the new route will be a proving ground for its fleet of six A340 long-haul freighters that it has been converting with a bespoke in-cabin pod containment system to add to belly capacity. It expects up to six conversions this year with a further pipeline in 2024.
In the last few months the freighters have received certification from both EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) and the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK.
Both Bournemouth Airport and Cargo First are part of the UK’s privately-owned Regional and City Airports (RCA) group, which also owns Coventry Airport, Exeter Airport and Norwich Airport. RCA also operates the XLR Executive Jet Centre FBO facilities at Birmingham, Bournemouth, Exeter and Liverpool airports.
