A new air cargo service has become operational between China and Europe, reported Xinhua. Operated by Yangtze River Express, the route is Shanghai-Chongqing-Moscow-Luxembourg-Shanghai. Boeing 747-400SF aircraft will fly the route twice a week, with departures from Pudong Airport in Shanghai every Wednesday and Sunday.

Zhu Zhiyong, general manager of marketing at Yangtze River Express, said the growth of Chongqing’s IT sector had increased demand for air cargo in the city.

Chongqing airport’s international cargo transport volume increased 580 per cent year-on-year to 18,000 tonnes in the first four months of 2011, according to Shao Jin, vice general manager of Chongqing airport’s ground service company. About 80 per cent of cargo departures from the airport are IT products.

Jade Cargo and TNT Group have each opened cargo routes from Chongqing to Europe in the past two years.