Simplified rules spur airfreight capacity

China has been simplifying applications for domestic and international cargo air routes to enhance the country's airfreight capacity and boost its global competitiveness, according to the country's top aviation regulator on May 13.

Airlines had to obtain operation permits for every single domestic air cargo route in the past, but now they are able to fly all domestic cargo routes on just one application as the aviation authority merged all permits into one, according to Jin Junhao, an official with the Civil Aviation Administration of China's transportation department.

In terms of issuing operation permits for international freight air routes, the administration has implemented list-based management, he said at a news conference, adding that with one application carriers can also operate all such routes on its list, which includes routes to 26 countries and regions.

The administration also allows companies to expand their air cargo service at both airports in Beijing－Beijing Capital International Airport and the newly-built Beijing Daxing International Airport－which used to be an either-or option for all airlines except China Postal Airlines, he added.

Jin noted that these actions will increase the country's international airfreight capacity and guarantee smooth cargo transportation worldwide.

Domestic and foreign international cargo flights in China totaled an average of 1,574 per week in April－up more than 55 percent before the coronavirus outbreak－and connected with 102 destinations in 49 countries around the world, he said, adding that the weekly figure has surged to 2,365 in the first two weeks of this month.

The civil aviation authority has also continued to ramp up support for the green channel of international air cargo trips and encourage passenger airlines to carry out freight transportation, and it has added more chartered flights, he said.

"The administration also encourages airlines to fill the severe shortage in freight capacity by turning their passenger jets into cargo-only airplanes, helping cushion the blow from the craft having sat idle during the outbreak," Jin said.