Ezhou Huahu airport is known as Asia’s first professional cargo airport. Located in central China’s Hubei Province, it launched over 20 new domestic and international cargo routes in July last year. Huang Yichang reports on how the airport is helping open up cargo transport from China’s mainland to the world.
A terminal building. Two airstrips. Ground operations with landing and take-off. At first glance, it may not appear different to other airports. But you barely see any passengers.
HUANG YICHANG Ezhou, Hubei “This airport is the first airport in Asia dedicated exclusively to cargo. Behind me a cargo aircraft preparing to take off, carrying tons of international parcels to destinations overseas.”
The advanced logistics system means express deliveries can reach any destination in China within a day. And any international destination, within two days.
DING FAN Senior Manager, Hubei International Logistic Airport “The Airport has to date opened 19 cargo routes, including 13 domestic and six international cargo routes. These six international cargo routes cover countries along the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, such as India, Kazakhstan, Belgium, and others.”
This freight transit and cargo sorting centre was developed by Shunfeng Express. Fifty-two-kilometers of intelligent sorting equipment can process nearly 300,000 items every hour. There are plans to expand capacity to a million items per hour in the future.
HUANG YICHANG Ezhou, Hubei “Ezhou is one of the smallest prefecture-level cities in China, so you may wonder why this location was selected to build such a significant infrastructure.”
One crucial reason-the central location plus access to the Yangtze River.
DING FAN Senior Manager, Hubei International Logistic Airport “With flight durations of 1.5 to 2 hours from Ezhou, it can reach the cities that contribute to 90% of the country’s GDP, serving 80% of the population. The airport also distinguishes itself with excellent connectivity, seamlessly integrating water, rail, road, and air transportation systems to facilitate efficient logistics operations.”
Hubei is the only province in China from which cargo needs to pass through two other provinces to travel abroad. An inland cargo airport marks a significant step in opening up the Chinese mainland to the outside world.
WU WENHUA Director, Development and Reform Commission of Ezhou “Under the national strategies of both the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Belt and Road Initiative, Ezhou airport serves as a gateway to promote openness to the outside world. Together with airports in the first-tier cities, we represent China’s participation in international aviation logistics competition.”
Wu says, high-end manufacturing industries such as optoelectronics and bio-pharmaceuticals, which have a preference for air transport, can benefit. Around eight international cargo routes from Ezhou are expected to open by the end of the year.
