Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on Friday officially launched its first direct air cargo route to Brussels, Belgium, linking the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in the region with the Belgian capital.
Operated by a B777F freighter and primarily transporting cross-border e-commerce goods, the new service is expected to enhance Urumqi's international cargo network and deepen its connectivity with the European market.
"From a geographical perspective, Xinjiang is closer to Europe, which helps shorten flight times. For example, flying from here to Brussels, Belgium, today we made the trip in just over seven hours," said Deng Weibin, a captain with Central Airlines.
With this new route, the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport now operates 36 international cargo routes spanning 22 countries. Among the 36 international cargo routes, 20 of them connect with Europe, making up a significant share of its total international cargo traffic.
The latest expansion will further strengthen the westbound air logistics corridor, supporting sustained growth in cargo throughput under the Belt and Road Initiative.
"We've cleared over 900 international cargo flights this year, accounting for 30.3 percent of all international flights. Moving forward, we'll streamline inspections and use technology to support cargo growth and our role in the Belt and Road Initiative," said Zhu Xinlei, an officer of Urumqi Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station.
China's Xinjiang launches first direct air cargo route to Brussels
