Shanxi opens air cargo channel with Central Asian countries

On October 21, at 8 a.m., a significant milestone was achieved at the Taiyuan Airport Customs, where a cargo flight operated by Tianjin Air Cargo took off for Almaty, Kazakhstan, loaded with Chinese-made goods including clothing.

This inaugural flight marks the official launch of a vital air freight corridor connecting Shanxi Province with Central Asian countries, providing a fresh impetus for economic and trade exchanges in the region.

The flight, scheduled for Mondays and Fridays, will travel directly from Taiyuan to Almaty. After arriving, the cargo will be distributed to various countries in Central Asia and Europe. The initial shipment included clothing, everyday consumer goods, machinery, and various components, with plans to expand the cargo in the future to include Shanxi’s local specialty products, automobile parts, renewable energy products, electronics, and medical equipment.

Li Haibin, General Manager of the International Business Division of Shanxi Airport Logistics Co., noted, “The one-way flight takes about six hours, allowing for same-day round trips. This method improves overall transport efficiency by 60% and reduces logistics costs by 30% compared to road and rail transport.”

Song Wei, Deputy Director of the Taiyuan Airport Customs, highlighted that this route is the second international freight charter established by Shanxi Province. The customs department provided comprehensive process guidance throughout crucial steps such as route application, aircraft registration, transportation tool declaration, manifest transmission, and holiday customs clearance support.