A sea-air-land multimodal logistics model is gaining traction in China, effectively combining speed, cost control and last-mile flexibility to move high-value goods and open new international freight channels.
Air cargo is typically used for time-sensitive, high-value products such as fresh seafood and electronics; however, high prices and limited flexibility can constrain single-mode transport. An integrated solution that synchronizes air, sea and road transport is now addressing a broader range of market needs.
The operations at Ningbo Lishe International Airport in east China's Zhejiang Province exemplify this efficient model.
At around 19:00, a chartered freighter carrying 13 tonnes of live swimming crabs, a specialty from Zhejiang, landed at the cargo terminal.
Some of the crabs were picked up directly at the airport and sent to local markets, while others were transported via "truck flights" to cities such as Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The road part of the air-land transfer is handled by vehicles known as "truck flights," or "virtual flights," which are valued for their flexibility and speed.
"These are usually high-value-added goods such as electronic components, fresh products and spare parts. Compared with traditional cargo, they require higher timeliness and stronger safety guarantees," said Lu Jiawei, a truck-flight driver.
Cargo flights in China have continued to expand this year, averaging 1,767 flights per week, up 15.7 percent from a year earlier, according to civil aviation data released recently.
By the end of November, China had 13 dedicated cargo airlines operating 288 freighters, 20 more than at the end of last year, signaling enhanced air transport capacity.
Multimodal transport in China opens new int'l logistics channels
China is expected to handle 5.08 billion domestic passenger trips in total as this year's 40-day Spring Festival travel rush period hit its halfway point on Saturday, according to official estimates.
On average, a record 250 million trips are being made daily across different Chinese regions from Feb 2, the start of the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush period, to Feb 21.
More than 360 million cross-regional trips are expected on Saturday, marking the third consecutive day during which passenger flow has exceeded the single-day peak of the same period in the history of the annual holiday travel rush.
Saturday, which is also Day 6 of this year's official nine-day Spring Festival holiday, also saw a rise in the number of return trips across China, as people head back to big cities from their hometowns.
The country's rail network is expected to handle 16.8 million passenger trips on the day.
Southwest China's Guizhou, and central China's Hubei and Hunan provinces on Saturday mobilized more overnight high-speed trains and deployed special train services to meet the increasing travel demand by migrant workers.
The Guangzhou South Railway Station in south China's Guangdong Province, a premier destination for migrant labor, has recently brought an intelligent system online to ensure the smooth high-intensity operations during the return travel rush.
On China's roads, over 339 million trips have been estimated on Saturday, with traffic volume on expressways expected to exceed 65 million.
Meanwhile, Saturday is also expected to see 2.63 million passenger trips made by air and 1.81 million trips made by water, with the maritime authorities monitoring key areas around the clock to ensure the safety of passengers on their return journeys.
"The volume of cross-regional personnel flow is expected to continue increasing tomorrow to reach the peak of overall passenger flow in the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush period this year. We've been continuously improving the comprehensive transportation network, effectively guaranteeing the large-scale travel of the population," said Yang Yong, deputy head of the Transport Services Department of the Chinese Ministry of Transport.
The Spring Festival travel rush, also known as "chunyun," amounts to the world's largest annual human migration as millions embark on journeys across the nation to reunite with loved ones to celebrate the arrival of the Chinese New Year.
The Spring Festival fell on Feb 17 this year. The official holiday lasts nine days from Feb 15 to 23, with the travel rush period lasting through March 13.
China to handle 5.08 billion domestic trips overall as Spring Festival travel rush hits halfway point
