Cainiao Group, the logistics arm of Alibaba, has launched a chartered flight between Xi’an, China and Liège, Belgium, that will bolster its China-Europe cross-border delivery capacity ahead of peak shopping season.
The twice-weekly flight is capable of carrying over 50 tons of cross-border e-commerce goods, including over 150,000 parcels.
Upon arrival at Cainiao’s Liège eHub, the goods from Cainiao’s chartered flight are immediately processed for customs clearance and sorted for onward delivery. This efficient process enables Cainiao to leverage seamless ‘air-to-ground transportation’ connectivity, ensuring fast delivery to Spain, France, Germany and other destinations in Europe.
“This newly launched chartered flight marks a significant step forward with Cainiao’s commitment to building a robust and resilient global logistics network,” commented William Xiong, vice president of Cainiao Group. “By expanding our air freight capabilities, we are providing our merchants with faster and more cost-effective shipping solutions, while also ensuring that consumers receive their orders on time and with the best quality.”
Cainiao has been developing its smart regional eHub at the Liège Airport for several years. It serves as a key node in its global logistics network, connecting chartered flights between China and Europe. This is further complemented by an extensive intra-Europe trucking network that covers more than 30 European countries. Together with the Xi’an-Liege chartered flight, Cainiao said it provides “a seamless cross-border logistics experience across Europe”.