Airfreight industry reaches for new heights

Mao said the favorable policy environment would help Shenzhen airport unleash the great potential of its freight business, but he stressed the need for coordinated development with nearby counterparts in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.Shenzhen airport has seen a higher growth rate for its cargo business than airports in Guangzhou, the Guangdong provincial capital, and Hong Kong, but its business volume still trails that of its counterparts in the other two cities.

Zhang, the Shenzhen airport cargo center manager, said some business had shifted from Hong Kong airport to Shenzhen during the pandemic.

A considerable volume of domestic goods used to be transported to Hong Kong airport via Shenzhen for export. However, due to the pandemic, restrictions imposed on cross-border cargo deliveries have resulted in some international airlines and express delivery companies, including DHL, diverting some of their business to Shenzhen airport, Zhang said.

Mao suggested that airports determine their strengths and coordinate planning of international routes and cooperation with airlines.

"If Shenzhen airport can make a head start in cold-chain deliveries, it should further upgrade its expertise and capacity in this area into a pivotal business," he said.

Mao also stressed the importance of further simplifying procedures to transfer goods among airports, especially between Hong Kong airport and those in the mainland.

He said it is vital to improve land routes connecting these airports, including opening more fast tracks for cargo transportation.