- Chinese express carrier YTO Cargo Airlines has launched three weekly services between Singapore and Hangzhou.
- Cainiao Network Changi Airport e-commerce logistics express delivery Singapore YTO Cargo Airlines
Chinese express carrier YTO Cargo Airlines will operate thrice-weekly services between Singapore and Hangzhou for Alibaba’s e-commerce shipments with Cainiao Network starting 2 November, with the first of many arriving at Changi Airport earlier today at 1600 hrs.
The direct airfreight route between Hangzhou and Singapore is expected to improve Cainiao’s global delivery within 72 hours in Southeast Asia, amidst a surge in cross-border e-commerce orders and year-end online shopping festivals.
Changi says cargo flows have been stable between Singapore and China, despite the reduction in belly-hold cargo capacity, and the airport has worked closely with air cargo partners to minimize disruption to supply chains.
The city-state’s import and export market to China, Changi’s top air cargo market, grew 7 percent year-on-year to more than 108,000 tonnes in the first three quarters, with a boost coming from import flows of PPE in the earlier months, as well as e-commerce products.
In April, Changi added four new freighter links to China, including Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, and Nantong, adding to Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. In the past seven months, it managed seven freighter links as of October 2020.
The freighter, passenger, and cargo-only combined, there are currently 14 city links between Singapore and China. CAG noted that airfreight capacity suffered between the two countries at the onset of the pandemic, but the “capacity gap has now been “narrowed significantly. From January to September, Changi Airport handled 1.13 million tonnes of air freight volume in total.
Mr. Lim Ching Kiat, Changi Airport Group’s (CAG) Managing Director of Air Hub Development said, “We are pleased to welcome YTO Cargo Airlines to Changi’s family of airlines. In these challenging times, the additional capacity provided by YTO Cargo Airlines will help support global supply chains and facilitate the transfer of essential goods between countries.
As an express carrier, YTO Cargo Airlines will enable fast air transportation of cross-border e-commerce shipments so that customers can benefit from timely deliveries, amid the rise of online shopping and disruptions in the aviation industry.”
Mr. David Su, YTO Cargo Airlines’ Chairman said, “We are delighted to launch our newest route to Changi Airport, together with our shareholder and core strategic partner Cainiao. Singapore is one of the key hubs in the Southeast Asia market, while Hangzhou is the cradleland of e-commerce in China. We are committed to responding to customer demands by providing five-star service and supporting bilateral trade between China and Singapore.”
