SF Airlines has recently secured approval from the US Department for Transportation (DOT) to operate cargo freight flights between China and the United States. 

The Shenzhen-based cargo airline, owned by SF Express Co., first applied for permission to operate 3x weekly cargo flights from its hub in Hangzhou to New York JFK, last May, originally scheduling the maiden flight by September.

Following the US regulator's approval, the airline is yet to announce its final plans. 

SF Airlines is headquartered in Shenzhen, a modern metropolis linking Hong Kong to China’s mainland, but aside from Hangzhou, it also operates freight services from Beijing, the Chinese capital.

Prior to this approval, SF Airlines services the route through Atlas Air.

Aside from SF Airlines, other Chinese carriers have been operating to the US including freight services by China Southern Airlines, China Cargo Airlines, Air China Cargo, and Suparna Airlines.

SF Airlines has been ramping up its worldwide expansion plans earlier launching its first scheduled service to Europe via Frankfurt Hahn and also added a second flight to India amid increasing e-commerce demand.

The airline operates 61 freighters, the largest in China, including B737-300(F)s, B737-400(F)s, B747-400(F)s, B757-200(PF)s, and B767-300(F)s in its fleet.

SF Airlines will utilize B747-400(F)s for their New York service.