Jinan to open cargo airline linking Japan

Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, will open its first international air cargo route to Japan in early December, local media reported.

The route will be operated by the Jinan branch of the Qingdao Zhengyu International Logistics Company and link China's Jinan, Zhengzhou and Osaka in Japan.

The line runs between the Jinan International Airport and the Kansai Airport in Osaka. During trial operations in December, there will be two flights per week, but that number will gradually increase to five flights per week.

The opening of the new airline will facilitate the delivery of products such as high-end textiles, electronic products and cosmetics from Japan to China, sources said.

Nearly 30 export-oriented enterprises in Shandong's Qingdao, Yantai, and Weihai will benefit from the route.

Jinan is home to booming high-tech industries and advanced equipment manufacturing, which provides sufficient high value-added goods for airline operation.

Officials said the opening of the route will allow the city to build itself into a regional logistics center combining land, sea and air transport.

This year, Jinan has opened eight new international air routes. To date, the city has a total of 26 international routes, linking 25 cities in 14 countries.