Further Jump in China-UK Air Freight Capacity Through Bournemouth Airport
November 23, 2023
Bournemouth Airport’s Cargo First air freight business has announced a further increase in capacity between Bournemouth and China with carrier European Cargo now operating up to nine flights a week with a third aircraft now dedicated to the route.
It means capacity on the e-commerce route has tripled in the six months since Shenzhen Sharing Express Logistic-Tech Ltd started the first all-cargo route between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) in China and Bournemouth Airport (BOH) in April, with three flights per week.
The increase to nine means there is almost 700 tonnes of weekly import capacity on the route, which is exclusively served by Bournemouth-based European Cargo’s fleet of all-cargo Airbus A340 wide-bodied freighters, each with a capacity of 76 tonnes.
European Cargo’s chief executive David Kerr said: “In the push to improve choice and service for UK consumers, we are delighted to expand our capabilities with our mutual customer. By partnering with Cargo First and the team at Bournemouth, to provide effective solutions into the supply chains of expanding online retailers, we have grown our repertoire.
“Now the UK’s largest commercial freighter operator, we continue to expand our portfolio of customers and origins, with new agreements in place through 2024. Additional capacity coming on stream in the first quarter of 2024 is fully committed to customers looking to enhance their capabilities, deploying the uniquely tailored dual-density freighter solution offered by ECL coupled with the dedicated support of Cargo First’s fulfilment capabilities.”
Bournemouth Airport managing director Steve Gill added: “This continued growth is further evidence of Bournemouth’s increasing stature as an e-commerce gateway to the UK. It reflects the confidence Chinese e-tailers have in the UK e-commerce market, which remains the most mature in Europe, and growing recognition that Bournemouth is a cost-effective and uncongested alternative to the busy hub airports.”
The growing importance of the route as an e-commerce gateway was underlined by a reciprocal trade mission between Sichuan Province and Bournemouth in August. This included the signing of a cargo development agreement between Sichuan Province Airport Group Company and Regional & City Airports (owner of Bournemouth Airport) to provide a stable logistics channel for the import and export of e-commerce goods.
Cargo First says around half of consignments from Chengdu are clearing customs locally in Bournemouth and bypassing Heathrow warehouses altogether for onward travel in the UK.
Both Bournemouth Airport and Cargo First are part of the UK’s privately-owned Regional and City Airports (RCA) group, which also owns Coventry Airport, Exeter Airport and Norwich Airport. RCA also operates the XLR Executive Jet Centre FBO facilities at Birmingham, Bournemouth, Exeter and Liverpool airports.
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Notes to Editors
Cargo First is the fast-growing air cargo operation based at Bournemouth Airport in the United Kingdom. Established in 2021, Cargo First has proved itself as a viable alternative London gateway for regular commercial cargo traffic to and from South-East Asia and North America, as well as having excellent connections to North West Europe.
Cargo First has a unique One Team approach for all cargo and logistics requirements and ancillary aircraft services. With total flexibility over operations and flight schedules, Cargo First can ensure consignments are delivered quickly into the London market and beyond, without the associated inconvenience that comes from landing into a busy hub airport.
Both Bournemouth Airport and Cargo First are part of the UK’s privately-owned Regional and City Airports (RCA) group, which also owns Coventry Airport, Exeter Airport and Norwich Airport. RCA also operates the XLR Executive Jet Centre FBO facilities at Birmingham, Bournemouth, Exeter and Liverpool airports.
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European Cargo is the UK’s largest widebody cargo aircraft operator, operating Airbus A340-600F aircraft across a variety of scheduled programmes and charter flights. European Cargo has a fleet of twelve Airbus A340-600 aircraft with eight currently based at Bournemouth Airport.
Since 2022, European Cargo has been converting its aircraft to full freighters using a unique main deck cargo pod system. Three of the modified aircraft are currently operational, with a fourth available in December. Six modified aircraft will be operational by April 2024 and ten aircraft by the end of the year. Each aircraft has a maximum payload of 76 tonnes with 440 cubic metre capacity across the upper and lower decks. The A340-600F is capable of non-stop flight over long distances, which along with its volumetric capacity, makes it extremely suitable for carrying e-commerce volumes from China to the UK.
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Issued by:
Jason Clark, DCA Public Relations, [email protected], +44 (0) 7980 834368