Bournemouth Airport has achieved a significant milestone by securing a new freighter service from Urumqi Diwopu International Airport in northwest China. This new route, which operates four round trips per week with a flight time of ten hours, marks a significant enhancement in the airport’s global connectivity and its role in the UK’s logistics and e-commerce sectors.
Strategic importance
Urumqi, located in the Xinjiang region of China, has been expanding its international freight routes, and the new service to Bournemouth is a testament to its ambitions. The Urumqi Diwopu International Airport now operates freight routes to eight countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Hungary. The addition of Bournemouth to this network underscores the growing importance of the UK as a vital link in global supply chains, particularly in the rapidly expanding e-commerce market.
For Bournemouth Airport, this new route represents a critical expansion of its international cargo operations. Managed by the Regional and City Airports (RCA) group, Bournemouth has, in recent years, positioned itself as a viable alternative to the more congested London airports. This strategic positioning has allowed Bournemouth to emerge as a significant import hub for the UK’s e-commerce market, one of the largest in the world.
UK’s e-commerce market
The establishment of this new freight route from Urumqi is particularly significant for the UK’s e-commerce sector. As one of the largest e-commerce markets globally, the UK relies heavily on efficient and reliable air cargo services to meet consumer demand. Bournemouth’s role as a major import centre is likely to be further strengthened by this new link, offering UK businesses and consumers faster and more direct access to products from northwest China.
This development comes on the heels of other strategic expansions in Urumqi’s freight network. Earlier this month, SF Airlines, a major Chinese cargo carrier, launched a new route between Urumqi and Budapest in Hungary. This route was specifically designed to serve the growing demand for e-commerce, agricultural, and speciality products.
Developing hub
Bournemouth Airport has undergone a transformation, particularly in its air cargo operations. The airport is home to European Cargo’s fleet of Airbus A340-600 freighters, which already operate regular flights to and from Chengdu, central China, and Haikou in the south. The addition of the Urumqi route further solidifies Bournemouth’s status as a key player in the UK’s air freight landscape.
In line with this growth, Bournemouth’s in-house handling arm, Cargo First, has been instrumental in managing the increased cargo volume. The airport has been actively expanding its infrastructure and workforce to accommodate this growth. In June 2024, European Cargo and Cargo First announced plans to add three more Airbus A340 freighters to their fleet, with one aircraft already added in July and two more expected by October. This expansion is a clear indication of Bournemouth’s commitment to scaling its operations and enhancing its capacity to handle more cargo routes, although specific routes for these new aircraft have yet to be confirmed.
To support this expansion, Cargo First has recruited 15 new members in warehousing, aircraft handling, and security roles over the past year. This increase in personnel is crucial for maintaining the high standards of service that have become synonymous with Bournemouth Airport’s cargo operations.
