Cargolux China to begin operations next year

It’s a go. The board of directors of Cargolux approved spending US$77 million to invest in Cargolux China, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2017. The new offshoot will be based in Zhengzhou, one of the fastest-growing cargo airports in China, set within the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone.

Cargolux will own a 35 percent share in the new carrier. Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Co. (HNCA) will own 49 percent of Cargolux China. Likewise, HNCA, a state-owned enterprise, owns 35 percent of its Luxembourg counterpart. Other investors in Cargolux China are Xin Gang Investment and Development Co. Ltd., which is responsible for construction and development in the economic zone, and the Henan Airport Group, each of which will divide up the remaining 16 percent.

Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport’s master plan through 2040 includes five runways (one of which will be solely dedicated to cargo flights), four passenger terminals and expanded cargo facilities. Cargo capacity is expected to reach more than 3 million tonnes annually.

Cargolux China will focus on trans-Pacific and intra-Asian routes. The Cargolux group operates twenty-five 747 freighters, including the four that are operated by Cargolux Italia. Five more 747 freighters are planned to join the fleet within the first three years of operation of Cargolux China.