Chinese air cargo airline, Great Wall Airlines has announced that it has commenced services from Tianjin Binhai International Airport to Amsterdam, the airline committing to a five flights weekly with leased Boeing 747-400 Freighter aircraft.

This latest operational announcement indicates another milestone achieved for the airline with a somewhat checkered past, Great Wall Airlines having resumed operations in 2007 having appealed in 2006 restrictions placed on the airline by the United States Department of Treasury.

The first airline to offer direct services from Tianjin to Europe, the move is indicative of the demand for air cargo transportation from with in China. The President  of Great Wall Airlines, Mr Tan Kai Ping saying that we have “listened to the needs of our customers in making this decision to serve Tianjin.”

Mr Ping went on to say that “The support we received from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, the Tianjin Municipal Government and our partners at Tianjin Binhai Airport convinced us that this is the correct decision. Our freighter services from Tianjin will enable us to support the supply chain needs of our customers for northern China.”

President of Tianjin Binhai International Airport Mr Shao Dengxiang expressed delight with the decision of Great Wall Airlines, saying “We are pleased to welcome Great Wall Airlines to Tianjin,” and that “The direct international cargo service provided by Great Wall Airlines will help to enhance Tianjin‘s position as one of  the premier international air cargo hubs of Northern China.”

By 2010, the annual cargo turnover at Tianjin Airport is expected to reach some 500,000 tons, as such Great Wall Airlines, presently based in Shanghai is looking to expand its services from China.  The expectation being that the the airline will add the United States to its list of international destinations in the next few months.  The airline presently operating into the major cargo hubs of Amsterdam, Manchester and Dubai.

Source: Great Wall Airlines

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