China Cargo Airlines has launched a new service to Budapest Airport that the eastern European hub hopes will support trade with China.
The new Shanghai Pudong (PVG)-Budapest service is operated by a Boeing 777 freighter three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
It is the first time the Hungarian airport has been linked with Shanghai by the China Eastern subsidiary.
"This development marks a significant milestone in our cargo network development," the airport said, highlighting the cargo volumes out of PVG.
"Last year, PVG was the world’s third-largest cargo hub in terms of cargo turnover. The thrice-weekly scheduled connection thus creates a great transport opportunity for export and import flows for both SMEs and multinational companies in Hungary and the CEE region and further strengthens BUD’s position as a cargo hub in Central and Eastern Europe."
The new flight is not the first time the airport has added a new freighter service from China this year.
In mid-June, the carrier added a Boeing 747 freighter flight linking Ezhou Huahu Airport in central China’s Hubei Province with Budapest International Airport in Hungary.
This is the first air cargo route linking Ezhou Huahu Airport to Hungary and is also SF Airlines’ third route from this airport to Europe.
Meanwhile, China Cargo recently signed an extended partnership with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo.
The agreement started on July 1 and will allow China Cargo Airlines to utilise Air France belly capacity for flights from Paris CDG to São Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU).
The two airlines have already had an interline agreement in place for a decade and also run a joint handling operation at Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) where AFKLMP shipments are handled by China Cargo.
