SF Airlines has launched a non-stop flight between Shenzhen and Singapore, becoming the first Chinese express airline to operate between China and Singapore.

The new flight is operated weekly with a Boeing 767-300ERF until October 27, 2018. Subsequent services are subject to regulatory approval.

According to Changi Airport Group, the addition of the SF Airlines service will increase maindeck air freight capacity between Singapore and Shenzhen by approximately 16%.

“We welcome SF Airlines to Changi Airport’s family of cargo airlines,” said Lim Ching Kiat, managing director of air hub development at Changi Airport Group. “Significantly, this allows for more cargo flows from China to and through Changi Airport, and will secure Singapore’s position as a premier regional cargo hub. There is also growing demand by the Chinese market for perishables and pharmaceutical products from the Southwest Pacific and Southeast Asian regions; both are among the top cargo segments passing through Changi Airport from these regions to China, with a robust year-on-year growth. Singapore is a gateway for such flows between China and countries in the two regions. The added capacity by SF Airlines marks the start of expected growth of express flows on these routes.”

SF Airlines is the SF Group’s airline division and is the largest express airline in China by aircraft fleet. SF Group’s express delivery arm, SF Express, has been operating in Singapore since February 2010 and established warehousing facilities at the Changi Airfreight Centre in September 2012.

“The successful launch of direct flights to Singapore is a testament to SF Airlines’ ability in responding quickly to market demands, and showcases its commitment to its customers in providing competitive and reliable route options,” said Liang Xi, vice president of maintenance and engineering at SF Airlines.

Of the 36 cities in China to which Changi Airport is connected, Shenzhen is among the top five for cargo throughput. The route is also flown by freighter operator UPS, as well as by passenger airlines Scoot, Shenzhen Airlines and SilkAir.

China is Changi Airport’s largest air cargo market and accounted for more than 270,000 tonnes of air freight throughput from June 2017 to June 2018, representing a year-on-year growth of 8%, according to CAG.