Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is breaking new ground with its first direct air cargo link to the Baltic Sea area. On Wednesday, a Boeing 767 freighter departed Urumqi—capital of the region—carrying 51 tonnes of e-commerce goods, touching down in Tallinn, Estonia after an 11-hour journey.
Fast Track to Northern Europe
Operating once a week, this route boosts cargo capacity by 30 percent compared to conventional aircraft. It mainly transports light industrial products—from garments to daily necessities—cutting logistics costs for sellers and buyers alike.
Connecting Sellers and Shoppers
Feng Liang, general manager of Xinjiang Wanshengtong Supply Chain Management, explains that the direct link lets Chinese sellers plug into northern Europe’s e-commerce platforms, smoothing cross-border shopping and delivery.
Scaling Up Trade
- 20 international cargo routes now connect Urumqi to major hubs worldwide, including 12 in Europe.
- From January to April, Urumqi airport handled 1,584 cargo flights, a 1,157.1% year-on-year surge.
- Cargo throughput reached 26,000 tonnes, up 522.2% year on year.
Customs official Zhao Beijing notes that these flights will help Xinjiang’s cross-border e-commerce firms expand overseas and drive exports of textiles, electronics and other competitive industries under the Belt and Road Initiative.
What’s Next?
With the new Baltic link, Xinjiang is setting the stage for deeper digital trade ties between China and Europe. Young entrepreneurs, tech innovators and e-commerce startups are watching closely as logistics times shrink and market access widens.
Reference(s):
Xinjiang launches first direct air cargo route to Baltic Sea area
cgtn.com
