On the morning of July seventeenth, an SF Airways 767-300 freighter took off on the Ezhou Huahu Airport (EHU) and headed to Shenzhen Baoan Airport (SZX) with SF Categorical cargo onboard. This means the official enter-into-operation for the newly based Ezhou airport.
“Skilled cargo airport”
Chinese language media reported the Ezhou Airport to be “the world’s fourth and Asia’s first skilled cargo airport,” as a substitute of the often used time period “cargo hub.”
It’s also introduced on the opening ceremony that the Ezhou Huahu Airport will launch roughly ten worldwide and 50 home cargo routes, and attain a cargo dealing with capability of two.45 million tons by 2025.
The aerial view of Ezhou Huahu Airport, with the well-known Yangtze River might be seen within the distance. Photograph: Ezhou Huahu Airport
Nonetheless, the projected cargo dealing with capability is lower than the numbers of Hongkong Worldwide Airport (HKG), Shanghai Pudong Worldwide Airport (PVG), Ted Stevens Anchorage Worldwide Airport (ANC), and Incheon Worldwide Airport (ICN) final 12 months. So why does the media name it Asia’s first and the world’s fourth?
The important thing phrase is “skilled.” The freight enterprise would be the core enterprise of the Ezhou Huahu Airport, and, equally necessary, will probably be the bottom of an air cargo big, on this case, SF Categorical.
Following this concept, the opposite three world’s “skilled cargo airports,” in Chinese language media’s view, can be Memphis Worldwide Airport (MEM) for FedEx, Louisville Muhammad Ali Worldwide Airport (SDF) for UPS, and Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEG) for DHL.
The FedEx cargo fleet in its cargo base, Memphis Worldwide Airport. Photograph: Easy Flying
Having a base airport is a prerequisite for air cargo giants. Apart from the comfort of enjoying a “dwelling recreation,” probably the most important benefit of getting a base airport is its varied supporting services, making it the logistics core of the air cargo giants.
SF Airways’ ambition
SF Categorical was based in 1993. After over a decade’s improvement, it determined to determine its personal fleet, SF Airways, in 2009. The primary cargo plane in its fleet is a Boeing 757-200 freighter, which beforehand flew for China Southern for 20 years.
The Boeing 757-200 freighter is the dominant plane sort of SF airways’ fleet. Photograph: SF airways
For the following 5 years, SF Categorical, which insisted on a direct administration group, saved dropping market share as a result of the internet-based method advantages different supply firms, which applies to the franchise group.
However in 2014, SF Categorical, in low profile, determined to start its choice for a cargo hub web site, and it introduced that it deliberate to go public for the capital wanted in February 2016.
Historical past at all times repeats itself. It took FedEx seven years from beginning its aviation enterprise in 1971 to go public in 1978. 4 a long time later, SF Categorical additionally took seven years to undergo the identical course of.
Two months after SF Categorical’ announcement, CAAC, China’s aviation regulator, accredited the plan for constructing a cargo hub airport in Hubei Province (at the moment, the precise airport location was not but decided to be Ezhou).
By October 2016, SF Airways ceased its small cargo plane (payload lower than 15 tons) introduction plan. From that point, SF Airways solely introduced giant freighters into its fleet.
SF airways now owns an all-Boeing freighter fleet of 87 cargo plane. Photograph: SF airways
With the capital raised from the share market, SF Categorical invested 2.5 billion yuan (370 million US {dollars}) in Ezhou Huahu Airport and one other stunning 11.5 billion yuan (1.7 billion US {dollars}) within the airport cargo distribution middle.
The Ezhou Huahu Airport is the primary airport in China during which non-public enterprise/capital is allowed to take part. SF Holding, the mom firm of SF Categorical, now holds 46% of the airport shares.
Till this present day, SF Airways owns an all-Boeing freighter fleet of 87 cargo plane. The 35 Boeing 757-200 freighter continues to be the dominant plane sort.
What do you consider the way forward for this “Memphis of China”? Is the success of FedEx or UPS replicable in China? Please share your ideas with us.
