China Cargo Airlines, a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, has launched a new freighter route connecting China and France.
According to a China Eastern social media post, the new service was launched on 20 November using one of the carrier’s Boeing 777 freighter aircraft.
The flights connect Paris CDG and Shanghai Pudong International three times per week.
The new service comes in response to rising demand between the two countries, reports media.
The airline is hoping to carry machinery and apparel to France and chemicals and raw materials on the return leg.
From Paris, the service will connect with other European locations through the carrier’s road feeder operation.
In Paris, cargo will be handled by Worldwide Flight Services (WFS).
Additionally, WFS will provide full ramp handling for the 777Fs and operate road feeder services for China Cargo Airlines between Paris and regional airports across France as well as to other major airports in Europe.
”The new contract extends a relationship between WFS, China Cargo Airlines and its parent , China Eastern Airlines, spanning more than 25 years in Paris,” WFS said. ”This cargo handling partnership is now also in place in Arlanda, Bangkok, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Marseille and Milan.”
As well as the new freighter operations, WFS handles all cargo carried onboard China Eastern’s passenger aircraft in Paris.
The airline has been expanding its freighter fleet this year, adding four 777Fs, and it has at least one more of the model on order, according to planespotters.net.
In total, the carrier currently operates 18 of the aircraft.
The new flight is not the airline’s first European network addition in 2025. In May, China Cargo Airlines launched a scheduled service between Hefei Xinqiao International Airport in China and Liege Airport in Belgium.
The carrier also offers flights in Europe to Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Stansted and Budapest. Its flights to Budapest were launched in 2024.
