JD Airlines (Jiangsu Jingdong Cargo Airlines), an affiliate of JD Logistics, has announced that it received an air carrier certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on August 31.

JD Airlines — based in Nantong Xingdong International Airport — said on top of meeting the needs of JD Logistics' integrated supply chain service's clients, JD Airlines is also opening up its capacity to the market.

It added that it now serves industries including high-end consumption, high-end manufacturing, medical, fresh produce and more. A single load capacity can transport as much as 23 tons.

"JD Airlines will first develop its domestic air cargo around China's three major economic circles of the Yangtze River Delta, the Bohai Sea and the Pearl River Delta, with a focus on the cities of Nantong, Beijing, Shenzhen and Wuxi," JD said. 

"It will soon extend its reach to cities in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, then Chengdu and Chongqing, and will gradually cover nationwide major cities and Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea and later in Europe, Middle East and North America by the end of 2025," it added.

Airlines aim to improve the industry standards for air express service and have already achieved a coverage rate of more than 95% for their air express delivery service among multiple cities in China.

JD Logistics noted that it began developing its air cargo business with airline companies in 2017.

Meanwhile, the establishment of JD Airlines will facilitate JD Logistics' building of a more flexible, stable and controllable supply chain ability.