Cargo key in Air China, Air New Zealand deal - Air Cargo Week

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Cargo key in Air China, Air New Zealand deal

Cargo key in Air China, Air New Zealand deal

Asia Pacific Airlines

Air New Zealand and Air China’s proposed alliance will place an importance on the movement of high value cargo.

The alliance, subject to regulatory approvals, could commence in December. It would see Air China operate a daily direct service between Beijing and Auckland. Air New Zealand has a daily Shanghai to Auckland service, which uses a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from 24 August.

The airlines say the alliance could double capacity between China and New Zealand. The deal will see New Zealand connect to the Chinese capital for the first time in three years. Air New Zealand chief executive officer (CEO), Christopher Luxon, says: “Airlines play a vital role in facilitating growth through crucial people to people connections and the movement of high value cargo.”

Air China CEO, Song Zhiyong, says the alliance will allow both flag carriers to build a sustainable service between Beijing and Auckland and it will supplement the existing connectivity between China and New Zealand.

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Air travel in Southeast Asia is growing at a rate well above the global average. This has prompted the development of a new airport to serve as Cambodia’s new capital gateway. Cambodia has responded with Techo International Airport (KTI) – a landmark project by Cambodia Airport Investment Co. Ltd. (CAIC), a subsidiary of Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation, in partnership with the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) – bringing world-class infrastructure and next-generation airport systems to the country’s new capital gateway. Replacing the former Phnom Penh International Airport, Techo International Airport opened on 9 September 2025 and represents the centrepiece of Cambodia’s aviation strategy. The airport is classified as a “4F-class” airport – meaning it can accommodate the largest cargo and passenger aircraft, such as Airbus A380 and Boeing 747, which allows large-scale cargo operations. According to plans, in its first phase the airport is expected to handle up to 175,000 tonnes of air cargo per year. Early official data cited indicates that the airport is designed for around 26,000 tonnes of cargo annually under initial operations. The large cargo-handling capacity (175,000 t/year) is significantly higher than the early-operation figure (26,000 t/year), which suggests the airport will scale up cargo operations as traffic increases. The airport’s infrastructure (runway, terminals, large-aircraft capability) positions it to support major international freight, enabling imports and exports of goods such as garments, agricultural products, electronics, helping Cambodia increase trade volumes. With large-aircraft handling, Techo can link to long-haul cargo routes around the world. Operational cargo logistics at Techo The airport now has a dedicated cargo terminal. Working hours for cargo operations are listed as 08:00 to 00:00 (midnight), seven days a week, though with flexibility depending on flight schedules. Customs operations are generally Monday–Friday 07:00–17:30 (with Saturday half-day), but clearance outside those hours can be arranged by prior coordination. As the airport has just opened, the full ramp-up of freight may take time. So the cargo-handling capability, a maximum of 175,000 tonnes a year, is a target rather than yet-achieved throughput. To give a scale of the planned operation, Cambodia’s three international airports collectively carried 75,000 tonnes of air cargo in the first 10 months of 2025.

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