Hainan Airlines has added a new ramp handling contract to its existing cargo handling partnership with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The Chinese airline, which has been a customer of WFS in Seattle for cargo handling since 2013, has now appointed WFS to also provide loading and unloading of its 3-5 weekly passenger freighter services connecting the US west coast city with Shanghai Pudong.

WFS will also provide other ramp services for the airline, including Crew Shuttle, Lavatory, Water, and GPU services.

The cargo-only flights are operating using Hainan Airlines' Boeing 787 aircraft and can carry up to 20 tonnes of cargo on the lower deck. Hainan, which previously operated passenger flights to Seattle, introduced cargo flights using passenger aircraft during the pandemic.

"Our good reputation for ramp handling, as well as our long service to Hainan as the airline’s cargo handling partner, has enabled us to win this welcome new business in Seattle. Our local ramp and cargo teams are helping Hainan provide much-needed cargo capacity on this prime route connecting China and the US," said Frank Clemente, senior vice president cargo, North America, at WFS.

WFS also holds handling contracts with Hainan Airlines at New York JFK and in Paris CDG.