A Boeing 747-400ERF freighter is loaded with 107 tons of goods at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport before it flies back to Los Angeles. [Photo/xmnn.cn]
A Boeing 747-400ERF freighter operated by Sky Lease Cargo arrived at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport at 8:53 on Oct 19, marking the official launch of a regular round-trip cargo flight between Xiamen in East China's Fujian province and Los Angeles in the United States.
The flight will operate once a week until Dec 31, 2021, making a total of 300 round trips. It will mainly transport electronic products, home appliances, apparel, and cross-border e-commerce goods.
The cargo throughput of Xiamen airports currently ranks eighth in China. The city has had direct passenger routes to Los Angeles, New York and Seattle before then. Yet each belly-hold of the passenger aircraft can only carry 20 to 30 tons of cargo.
Officials from the city's transport bureau said that the new route will help enhance the cargo throughput of Xiamen airports and ensure the stable development of the city's foreign trade amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Air freight has become a major transportation channel for medical supplies since the outbreak started," said an official. "As the epidemic subsides, the service will continue to play a pivotal role in promoting the high-end industrial design and manufacturing and cross-border e-commerce."
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
