Chongqing Airport Group has signed a cooperation heads of agreement with domestic freight forwarder Sinotrans Air Transportation Development (Sinoair) to develop Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport into a major logistics hub, Xinhua reported.

Sinoair will work with the airport to attract international routes to Europe, America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia with the aim of turning Chongqing into one of the largest express package distribution centres in China.

Sinoair plans to invite its joint venture cargo carrier with Korean Air, Grandstar Cargo, to launch scheduled or chartered services from Chongqing.

Between January and July this year, Chongqing Jiangbei handled 121,300 tonnes of cargo, up 16 per cent year-on-year.