Operators double capacity on China-UK e-commerce route

Bournemouth Airport is anticipating more e-commerce shipments from China as its air freight business Cargo First announced the doubling of services operated by European Cargo between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) in China and Bournemouth Airport (BOH).

The move comes following a new cargo development agreement signed in August, between the Sichuan Province Airport Group Company and the Regional and City Airports, which owns Bournemouth Airport. Starting 18 September, the weekly services between CTU and BOH will be increased to six. Bournemouth-based European Cargo will fly the route using its fleet of A-340 wide-bodied freighters, each with a capacity of 76 tonnes.

Cargo First said the new cargo development deal aims to build the route as a ‘dual hub’ cooperation platform between Chengdu and Europe, providing a stable channel for the import and export of e-commerce goods. The company noted it has seen a growing proportion of consignments from Chengdu clearing customs locally in Bournemouth and by passing Heathrow warehouses altogether for onward travel in the United Kingdom. The company is looking forward to 1 million square feet of warehousing development on the Cargo First Logistics Park at Bournemouth Airport.