Air China Cargo, a joint venture between Air China and the Cathay Pacific, has been officially launched having been approved by all relevant authorities.

Based in Shanghai, the company will specialise in providing links between China and Europe. Its first service operates twice a week between Milan, Chengdu and Shanghai, using 747-400 freighters.

The company has also initiated a Dalian-Shanghai-Frankfurt service that departs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It is designed to enable shippers in the Dalian area to avoid having to move cargo to Beijing or South Korea to access suitable wide-bodied capacity.

ACC currently has nine 747-400 freighters in its fleet, more than any other civil airline operating in China. The company is looking to boost that number to 12 in the coming months.