Cainiao partners with Shenzhen Airport and Atlas Air to advance air cargo

Cainiao Network has partnered with Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport to establish an air cargo centre and expanded its partnership with Atlas Air to launch more international chartered cargo flights from Shenzhen.

The new flights from Shenzhen, China to São Paulo, Brazil, will operate twice a week, with a loading capacity of over 220 tons per round-trip flight, said Cainiao. The inaugural flight took place last weekend.

Atlas Air will provide cross-border cargo transportation services for product categories ranging from electronics to automobiles.

The air cargo centre is expected to support growing cross-border e-commerce parcel volume from China to Latin America.

The facility will play a key role in streamlining and optimising parcel sorting and customs clearance processes for import and export goods at the airport.

It will also leverage Cainiao’s smart logistics capabilities, with solutions and equipment such as Cainiao’s hand-held device – LEMO PDA, digital customs clearance system and warehouse management system (WMS).

Goods shipped via air from Shenzhen and the Southern China region can enter the airport directly for loading onto cargo planes. Transit goods can also be seamlessly transferred to other ports and airports via the air cargo centre.

Going forward, the air cargo centre is anticipated to deliver a 20-30% increase in parcel processing efficiency and the ability to conduct 24/7 operations during peak seasons.

“This collaboration between Cainiao and Shenzhen Airport represents a significant milestone as we establish air cargo centers in key international airports to integrate our smart logistics technologies and global network within the value chain,” Dr Ding Hongwei, vice president of Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group.

“By tapping onto Cainiao’s extensive overseas logistics infrastructure and network, we will further optimize the cross-border logistics value chain in Shenzhen and more broadly in the South China region. Merchants will in turn benefit from more easily accessible cross-border shipping services when they sell globally.”

“We are pleased to announce the launch of new international cargo routes with Cainiao,” said John Dietrich, president and chief executive, Atlas Air Worldwide. “Through deepened cooperation with Cainiao, we will be able to better serve Chinese brands as they export to the rest of the world.”