Chinese carrier Sichuan Airlines Cargo will launch a freighter service between China and Belgium at the end of April targeting e-commerce traffic.
The three-times-per-week service will operate between Chengdu and Brussels using recently delivered A330F aircraft. It is the e-commerce specialist's first full-cargo destination in Europe.
It is hoped the service will be expanded to six times per week by 2020.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sichuan Airlines Cargo to Brussels Airport,” said Brussels Airport Company chief executive Arnaud Feist.
“In addition to being our first Chinese full-freighter airline, it will provide us with a direct link to Chengdu Airport, which has been chosen as the new hub for SF Express, one of the main e-commerce operators in China. Sichuan Airlines strengthens our network in the centre of China, and also supports our medium to long term e-commerce strategy.”
The move into cargo operations by the passenger airline has been expected for some time. The airline has long been rumored as the destination of three BOC Aviation A330F aircraft formerly operated by Qatar Cargo. The Middle Eastern airline offloaded the aircraft when it took delivery of B777Fs.
