From 8 hours down to 1 hour and 45 minutes! A new venture in air cargo:

While attention often focuses on the "iron camel caravans" traversing the Eurasian continent, an "Air Silk Road" is also quietly taking shape. On July 29, a circular international cargo charter route connecting Urumqi, Tashkent, and Kashgar successfully completed its trial flight. This marks not only the first international cargo loop in Central Asia spanning three countries but also offers a high-efficiency solution for cross-border logistics at a time when overland transport corridors are nearing capacity.

Unlike traditional point-to-point direct flights, this "Air Express" utilizes an innovative circular operational model. A dedicated freighter takes off from Urumqi, stops in Tashkent (the capital of Uzbekistan) to load cargo, and then flies to Kashgar, Xinjiang, to unload. This "triangular loop" design allows a single aircraft to link two domestic hubs with one overseas node, enabling the complementary exchange of cargo sources in both directions and significantly boosting the utilization rate of the aircraft's belly hold.

For logistics professionals in the Central Asia sector, the most significant highlight of this trial flight is the revolutionary improvement in customs clearance efficiency. Data from the trial indicates that, thanks to advance declarations and integrated system coordination, the customs clearance time for exports from Kashgar was slashed from the previous eight hours to just one hour and forty-five minutes. This represents a major boon for time-sensitive goods such as electronics, high-value equipment, and fresh cold-chain products.

Of course, this "Air Express" service is currently in a pilot phase, and its transport capacity cannot yet match the massive volumes handled by freight trains. However, its strategic significance cannot be overlooked: at a time when the number of freight trains passing through ports like Alashankou and Khorgos has surpassed the 10,000 mark—creating noticeable operational pressure—a multi-dimensional logistics landscape featuring "air-rail complementarity" is becoming a reality. Air cargo focuses on "high-tech, high-precision, and urgent" shipments, while rail freight handles "high-volume, bulk" cargo; their synergy will provide more resilient logistics solutions for trade with Central Asia.

The transition of "Air Express" to regular operations may well hold the key to resolving concerns regarding "last-mile" delivery speeds. We will also continue to monitor developments regarding subsequent sailings and freight rates on this route.