GSSA Kales Group has signed a deal to sell space on flights operated for Alibaba logistics-arm Cainiao as they make their way back to China.
Through subsidiary, Cargonet Asia, Kales Group will support Cainiao with fixed allotments, block space agreements and free sales in order to sell available capacity on flights chartered or leased by Cainiao on their way back to China.
“We are very proud to sign this partnership with Cainiao and contribute to the development of a global smart logistics network supporting the growth of e-commerce and beyond," said Sebastiaan Scholte, chief executive of Schiphol-headquartered Kales Group.
“We will support Cainiao on their different trade lanes in different parts of the world. Cainiao will be a very welcome addition to the already extensive portfolio we offer to our forwarders’ base.”
James Lu, senior logistics advisor for Cainiao, added: “This partnership will allow us to better leverage our logistics infrastructures such as the Liege eHub and to help our clients to better export to China.”
The deal comes as Cainiao has been ramping up its air cargo operation over recent months as it looks to speed up delivery times in the competitive world of e-commerce.
This year alone, it has announced deals air cargo covering the Malaysia-UK market, a deal with Qatar from Hong Kong to South America, an expansion of its deal with Atlas covering South America, and services to Vietnam.
Earlier this month, Saudia Cargo said that its e-commerce volumes had increased by around 30% since it struck a deal with Cainiao in 2021 to transport e-commerce from Hong Kong to Liege in Belgium, with Riyadh city as a connection point.
