On November 19, the Zhengzhou International Air Cargo Hub achieved another significant milestone. With 79 cargo flights completed on that day, the airport reached a historic breakthrough: transporting a total of 707,000 tons of cargo this year. This marks a 35.3% increase compared to the previous year and surpasses the annual cargo volume record of 705,000 tons set in 2021.
The fourth quarter, a traditional peak season for air cargo transportation, has seen Zhengzhou airport's cargo business maintain strong growth momentum, with several business indicators continuously breaking records. In September, the airport handled 76,000 tons of cargo, marking the highest monthly volume at that time. This record lasted only a month, as the cargo volume in October surpassed 80,000 tons, setting a new record. As of November, the airport has already processed 51,000 tons of cargo and is on track to achieve a new monthly record. On November 6, Zhengzhou airport supported 90 freighter flights in a single day, setting a new historical record for the highest number of flights in its 27-year history.
A jetliner of Luxembourg-based Cargolux Airlines International arrives in Zhengzhou. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
The accelerated growth in cargo volume is fueled by an increasingly dense network of air routes. Currently, with Cargolux Airlines International as a representative, seven out of the top 10 global all-cargo airlines have established operations at Zhengzhou airport. The Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road" construction has boosted Zhengzhou airport's six core advantages: network coverage, customs clearance convenience, facility completeness, operational efficiency, synergistic operating system, and leadership in smart logistics and innovative models. At present, Zhengzhou airport has launched 57 cargo routes, establishing a hub route network that spans across the three major economic zones of Europe, America, and Asia, covering the main economies worldwide.
For several consecutive years, Zhengzhou airport has consistently ranked as the fifth-largest international air cargo hub in China, following only Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, in terms of international air cargo volume. It has essentially established seven major logistics distribution centers for electronic products, cross-border e-commerce, international express delivery, international mail, high-end automotive parts and so on. On November 16, over 1,600 tons of international air cargo departed from Zhengzhou airport, with more than 500 tons of cross-border e-commerce goods exported through the Zhengzhou International Express Center, accounting for 32 percent of the total volume.
