Imported and exported cargo passing through Chongqing airport increased 391 per cent year-on-year in the first five months of 2011.

The airport now has 30 cargo flights taking off and landing on average every week, including a Liège-Chongqing-Shanghai-Liège route operated by TNT Airways.

Chongqing airport is investing heavily to improve its transport infrastructure to service its growing manufacturing sector, especially of high-tech products. It plans to spend Rmb1bn on building a 170,000 sq metre cargo terminal, phase one of which is expected to be operational by the end of 2011.

According to a Xinhua report, in future 50 per cent of Chongqing’s IT product exports will be transported by rail, 30 per cent by air and 20 per cent by water. Of the 30m laptops manufactured in Chongqing this year, 10m will be transported by air.