SF Express, China's leading express delivery firm, has expanded the scope of its international business by opening a second, direct air freight route to India.
Operated by the SF group's air cargo arm, SF Airlines, the new Shenzhen-New Delhi route follows the launch of a Shenzhen-Chennai service in May last year.
SF Express described the new route as “a crucial milestone” as it “continues to enhance its South Asian air freight network.” It will be served twice-weekly by a B747-400 freighter providing (weekly) capacity of 400 tonnes in total.
"With its population of 1.4 billion, India is an enormous market with a rapidly growing GDP and a thriving e-commerce market," said Sam Sun, the head of SF Express India.
"As the capital of India, New Delhi is an important location for Chinese companies to invest, develop and expand their business in the country. To leverage these advantages, SF Express has launched an all-new direct air freight route to New Delhi to fully penetrate the Indian market and provide comprehensive cross-border logistics coverage."
SF Express India primarily provides Economy Express (International) and Cargo Freight services between India and China.
The group's offering includes medium to high-end express cross-border services for B2B and individual customers, carrying shipments promptly thanks to direct flights, seamless customs clearance, and diversified value-added services. Customers in India can also enjoy reliable and convenient door-to-door luggage pickup and delivery service to China.
Cargo carried by SF Airlines to India is mainly in the form of exports of consumer electronics and industrial equipment, while imports (to China) are largely made up of e-commerce parcels and general cargo.
The flights facilitate “Sino-Indian cross-border e-commerce development and the promotion of Chinese brands in overseas markets.”
SF Airlines has China’s largest freighter fleet, consisting of 30 Boeing 757-200PCFs, 17 737-300/400SFs, eight 767-300BCFs and two 747-400ERFs. The latter are two ex-Jade Cargo International aircraft, which were bought online by SF Airlines in November 2017.
In 2019, it added eight international routes, all operated by SF Airlines' all-cargo aircraft, its global coverage expanding from Southeast Asia to Central Asia and Europe. This included three weekly flights from Wuxi and Chongqing to Frankfurt Hahn and back to Wuxi, which started in September last year.
To the backdrop of the '11.11 Global Shopping Festival’ (Singles Day in China), from November 11 to 17 of 2019, SF Airlines said it “witnessed a nearly 30% freight volume increase over last year”, with strong growth in shipments of electronics products and fresh goods.
At the end of last year, SF Holdings, parent company of SF Express and SF Airlines, announced the issuance of six-year convertible bonds to raise CNY5.8 billion (US$835.5 million), part of which will go towards the purchase of aircraft.
