SUPPLEMENT


Typical flight times from Asia Pacific HKG – LHR


PEK – JFK PVG – CDG PVG – ORD HKG – DXB PEK – SYD


12 hr and 30 mins 14 hr and 25 mins 13 hours


13–14 hours 8 hours


10–11 hours


Key dates in the regional airfreight history The first known airfreight flight in China occurred in 1927. This marked the beginning of commercial air transportation in the region. While it was not large-scale, it showed the potential for airfreight in China. Cathay Pacific, founded in 1946, became a key player in


airfreight in Asia after World War II. It had been started by two men, Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow, two ex-wartime flyers known for flying ‘The Hump’ over the Himalayas into China. They buy a Douglas DC-3 named ‘Betsy’ and start the airline. By 1947, the airline expanded its operations to include cargo services across the Asia Pacific region, significantly contributing to the region’s airfreight infrastructure. During the 1950s, air cargo networks began to form more


formally across the Asia Pacific region. Airlines like Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and Japan Airlines started carrying commercial cargo, spurring further development of airfreight systems. The introduction of widebody jets such as the Boeing 747 in


the late 1960s and early 1970s revolutionised airfreight in the region. These larger aircraft could carry more cargo and served as a game-changer for airlines in the Asia Pacific region, expanding their capacity and ability to handle large freight volumes. In 1970, Singapore Airlines Cargo was officially established as


a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, and it quickly became a major player in the region’s airfreight operations, facilitating both regional and global trade. During the 1980s, Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) emerged as a critical air cargo hub in the Asia Pacific region, taking advantage of its strategic location and booming export markets, particularly in electronics and textiles. The rapid growth of global e-commerce in the 1990s, especially


in markets like China and Japan, led to an increase in airfreight volumes. E-commerce giants began to rely heavily on air cargo for the rapid delivery of goods, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. FedEx Express opened a significant hub in China in 2000, capitalising on the country’s growing manufacturing sector. This


Commercial pilots in major Asia Pacific countries


China: 40,000–50,000 pilots India: 15,000–20,000 pilots Japan: 6,000–8,000 pilots Australia: 4,000–5,000 pilots


40-50


Flag carriers in the Asia Pacific region, depending on definition


became one of FedEx’s largest regional hubs and solidified China’s role as a key player in global airfreight. The SARS outbreak in 2003 had a temporary but significant


impact on air cargo operations in Asia. This event disrupted airfreight for several months, affecting trade, supply chains and demand for air cargo capacity. The 2008 Global Financial Crisis caused a temporary downturn


in global airfreight, including in Asia Pacific. The crisis led to a slowdown in manufacturing and trade, and air cargo volumes plummeted. However, recovery began in the following years, with Asia Pacific remaining a major engine of growth. By the 2010s, e-commerce and the rise of Alibaba and


Amazon in China and other parts of the Asia Pacific region led to unprecedented growth in demand for airfreight services.


E-commerce companies increasingly relied on air cargo for fast deliveries across vast regions. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted airfreight operations


worldwide. Passenger flights, which often carry cargo in the belly hold, were significantly reduced. This caused a shortage of airfreight capacity. However, the pandemic also highlighted the importance of air cargo for delivering medical supplies, vaccines and essential goods. The Asia Pacific region became a critical hub for vaccine distribution, particularly through airports like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai. As the global economy recovered from the pandemic, demand


for air cargo surged. The Asia Pacific region, particularly China and Southeast Asia, saw a significant rebound in airfreight volumes, driven by strong consumer demand and supply chain challenges.


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