China's First Fifth Traffic Rights Flight

     Taking off from Dubai, an all-cargo freighter of China Southern Airline, Flight CZ458, landed in its base airport, Guangzhou New Baiyun Airport on September 6th.
     Seemingly a routine flight, the movement signified a successful fifth traffic rights first flight for China’s domestic airlines.
     The first time flight from Pudong Airport in Shanghai to Mumbai (Bombay) to Dubai, launched by China Southern Airlines, changed forever the domestic China Flag carriers’ strict traditional point-to-point international flight.
     Now these carriers will follow the rest of the aviation world that regularly serves multiple destinations with one flight.
     “This is a brand new capability for our all-cargo freighter operation,” Mr. Zhang Zhifeng General Executive of Freight Department of China Southern Airlines, told FT.
     “Allowing us to move goods from a third country and to sell more destinations, will significantly improve our air cargo service and expand business channels.
     “Air Cargo from East China to Mumbai and Dubai has had to be transferred in Hong Kong in the past.
     “Now, with this new route, that will be change.
     “India, a country with open skies, is an important logistics center of the world.
     “Gaining access to the markets of India and Middle East as soon as possible, means a lot to the long term plan for development of our air cargo business.”
     China Southern Airlines said it planned for two months preparing for this flight.
     With no set up in Mumbai, local suppliers accomplish all support works for this flight.
     “We look forward to even more combinations for our cargo services in the future,” Mr. Zhang declared.
(David)