On the evening of October 25th, with the smooth landing of Zhongyuan Longhao Airlines GI4040 flight, two new historical records were simultaneously set at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport: the number of all-cargo flights on a single day exceeded 100 for the first time, and the daily cargo handling capacity exceeded 4,300 tons for the first time. With these two core cargo indicators setting new records, Zhengzhou Airport has developed rapidly and entered the first tier of domestic transportation airports, marking a further leap in its status as an international air cargo hub.
It is reported that among the all-cargo flights guaranteed on that day, there were 57 international cargo flights, with most heading to Europe. The number of cargo flights guaranteed by an airport can usually reflect the economic activity in the region where the airport is located. The guarantee of more than 100 cargo flights on a single day means that Zhengzhou Airport has played a supporting role as a key transportation node in driving regional economic development by efficiently linking global resources.
Guided by the Zhengzhou-Luzhou "Air Silk Road", the China Henan Airlines Group has continuously expanded its "dual hub" cooperation, building a global cargo route network. The carrying capacity of the "Air Silk Road" has been continuously upgraded, and Zhengzhou Airports international network of friends has expanded year by year. As of the end of September, a total of 35 all-cargo airlines (including 29 international and regional ones) have been operating at Zhengzhou Airport, opening 64 all-cargo routes (including 46 international and regional ones) to 67 cities (including 49 international and regional ones) in 31 countries. The radiation range of the international cargo route network centered on Zhengzhous aviation hub has been significantly expanded.
To enhance the hubs capability, Zhengzhou Airport has made simultaneous efforts in two dimensions: route network and support capacity. In terms of route layout, the existing cargo routes have been continuously densified: starting from October 13th, Cargolux Airlines International will increase the frequency of the Zhengzhou=Luxembourg cargo route from 20 flights per week to 22 flights per week, and the postal aviation route on the same route will also be increased from 2 flights per week to 3 flights per week, further consolidating the transportation capacity of the China-Europe cargo corridor; on October 15th, Maersk Airlines will densify the Zhengzhou=Billund route to 6 flights per week, doubling the frequency. At the same time, several new domestic and international cargo routes have been actively opened: on October 16th, Capital Airlines opened a Zhengzhou=Glasgow, UK cargo route with 4 flights per week; on October 22nd, Atlas Air added a Zhengzhou=Miami cargo route with 3 flights per week, opening a new direct route to the Americas; on October 24th, Northwest International Cargo Airlines opened two cargo routes, Xian=Zhengzhou and Zhengzhou=Bangkok, with 3 flights per week each, improving regional and international coordination and linkage.
The further optimization and enhancement of support efficiency also served as a crucial pillar for this breakthrough. To ensure the smooth flow of air cargo, Zhengzhou Airport has specifically introduced multiple robust measures: in the cargo terminal operation phase, every effort has been made to expand the operation space, while continuously tapping into potential in the cargo sorting and storage processes; opening additional cargo security check channels to enhance the efficiency of cargo acceptance and transportation; implementing a flexible personnel shift system to ensure 24/7 response, especially in key areas such as cargo loading, unloading, and transfer. Through optimizing mechanisms and efficient collaboration, a seamless connection across the entire cargo support chain has been achieved, effectively improving operational efficiency and ensuring rapid cargo turnover.
Zhang Mingchao, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Zhongyu Aviation Group, stated that achieving breakthroughs in two key cargo transportation indicators once again is a vivid manifestation of the effectiveness of the "Air Silk Road" construction. Moving forward, Zhongyu Aviation Group will conscientiously implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, continue to focus on the "two highs and four emphases", and follow the strategic deployment of the provincial party committee and government to enhance and expand the radiation and influence of Zhengzhou International Air Cargo Hub. This will contribute to building a national unified market circulation hub in our province, creating a dual circulation fulcrum for domestic and international markets, and making new contributions to expanding high-level opening up.
