Air China Cargo plans to double the number of its cargo flights between Shanghai and Narita airport in Tokyo to four a week starting this month.

The airline began operating the route in late October and currently flies between the two cities every Tuesday and Sunday with Boeing 747-400 planes capable of carrying 110 tons of cargo. As a result of strong demand, it has decided to adding flights on Thursdays and Fridays starting on 13 January.

Flights from Shanghai to Narita have been operating at around 90 per cent of capacity, with return flights at around 70 per cent of capacity.

Air China Cargo also operates six cargo flights a week between Kansai International Airport, located 50km from Osaka, and Shanghai and Beijing.