News / Air cargo sees flurry of new routes between Europe and Asia

Photo: Etihad/ Schenker

So far this year, four new airfreight services between Europe and Asia have been announced. 

Today, MSC Air Cargo said it would launch a flight from Amsterdam to Seoul, adding that its “extensive road feeder service network” meant shippers can start their journey “from anywhere in Europe”. 

MSC has five 777Fs, four of which are operated by Atlas Air and one by AlisCago Airlines. 

This service is likely to compete with Air Incheon’s new plans, which could include a service between Seoul and Brussels. 

DB Schenker also announced today that, in partnership with Etihad Cargo, it had launched a regular Ezhou-Frankfurt route, with a 777F.

Departing Ezhou each Tuesday, with a stopover in Abu Dhabi, the route will cover shippers in ecommerce, hi-tech, electronics, industrial goods, consumer and retail and automotive. It estimated annual volumes for the route at about 5,200 tons. 

Ezhou is an up-and-coming destination: it offers 30 international and 53 domestic cargo routes and enjoyed the fastest growth rate in China, ranking fifth in cargo throughput with 1.2m tons last year. 

The forwarder said: “The unique location of Ezhou Huahu International Airport was a key factor for DB Schenker in choosing to establish the operations there. The airport is … 75 km from Wuhan and within 1.5-hour flight of five major national urban conglomerations, including the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions.

“The three main railway lines, seven highways and five deepwater ports surrounding the airport constitute a comprehensive multimodal transportation network, ensuring the solid support for cargo distribution.”  

It added that it was also near a cluster of industries, including aviation and healthcare. 

Meanwhile Maersk Air Cargo has launched a six-flights-a-week service between Zhengzhou in Henan Province and Billund in Denmark, with a 767F, primarily, it said, for cross-border ecommerce and electronics. 

Finally – and not route-related – Air Atlanta Icelandic has taken on an ex-China Airlines Cargo 747F to be operated on behalf of Network Aviation Group.