THE US Department of Transportation has approved Shenzhen, China-based SF Airlines to commence scheduled and charter cargo flights between any US and Chinese points.
The carrier has the largest freighter fleet in China with 57 all-cargo aircraft, flying to 60 cities and regions at home and abroad.
This year it has expanded international operations into Central Asia and Europe, helping to support China's 'Belt and Road' initiative for extending national power through infrastructure investments and cultivating exports.
SF Airlines plans to start operating to the US next year but has not yet decided on a destination, said an unidentified source close to the company, reported New York's FreightWaves.
The carrier, which also operates from hubs in Hangzhou and Beijing, originally applied to launch thrice-weekly service to New York beginning in September.
The route licence issued earlier this month is good for one year, according to a notice posted on a US government website.
Open Skies agreements eliminate government interference in the commercial decisions of airlines related to routes, capacity and pricing. The additional flexibility enables airlines to operate more efficiently and participate in alliances.
The new European service to Germany's Frankfurt Hahn airport eventually will offer 600 tonnes of capacity to Europe every week, with a maximum payload of 110 tonnes on each Boeing 747-400 flight. In November, the carrier added a second flight to India to tap the expanding e-commerce market.
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The carrier has the largest freighter fleet in China with 57 all-cargo aircraft, flying to 60 cities and regions at home and abroad.
This year it has expanded international operations into Central Asia and Europe, helping to support China's 'Belt and Road' initiative for extending national power through infrastructure investments and cultivating exports.
SF Airlines plans to start operating to the US next year but has not yet decided on a destination, said an unidentified source close to the company, reported New York's FreightWaves.
The carrier, which also operates from hubs in Hangzhou and Beijing, originally applied to launch thrice-weekly service to New York beginning in September.
The route licence issued earlier this month is good for one year, according to a notice posted on a US government website.
Open Skies agreements eliminate government interference in the commercial decisions of airlines related to routes, capacity and pricing. The additional flexibility enables airlines to operate more efficiently and participate in alliances.
The new European service to Germany's Frankfurt Hahn airport eventually will offer 600 tonnes of capacity to Europe every week, with a maximum payload of 110 tonnes on each Boeing 747-400 flight. In November, the carrier added a second flight to India to tap the expanding e-commerce market.
WORLD SHIPPING