New cargo airline boosts Ezhou’s rise as a global freight hub
China’s newly launched Hubei International Cargo Airlines has selected Ezhou Huahu International Airport as its operational hub.
A new carrier, Hubei International Cargo Airlines, has been officially established in China’s Hubei province.
The airline will be based at Ezhou Huahu International Airport (EHU), which will serve as its operational hub in China.
Hubei International Cargo Airlines has been established through a joint investment, with Reignwood Aviation Group holding a 90% stake and Ezhou Changda Investment Holding Group owning the remaining 10%.
As Hubei works to develop an international air cargo hub, Huahu Airport has seen a significant boost in its cargo handling capacity.
In the first half of 2025, Huahu Airport handled 249,000 tonnes of international cargo and mail, a 261% surge compared to the same period in 2024, according to an official release.
Zheng Gang, executive president of Reignwood Group and chairman of Reignwood Aviation Group, says, “Our local airline will prioritise the global distribution of products stemming from Hubei’s broader economic development.”
Ezhou Huahu International Airport (EHU), the operational hub of Hubei International Cargo Airlines
Hubei International Cargo Airlines is expected to secure its establishment approval by 30 June 2026. Within the next five years, it aims to build a fleet of 20 freighters, open over 10 intercontinental cargo routes, and achieve total revenue exceeding 5 billion yuan.
By its 25th year, it intends to expand its fleet to 100 freighters, achieve upwards of 30 billion yuan in total revenue, and establish a comprehensive national freight network, thereby executing a global operational strategy.
Notably, recent data from Rotate, a cargo and capacity tracking platform, ranks China’s Ezhou Huahu International Airport (EHU) as the world’s second fastest-growing cargo airport in 2025, following Urumqi.
Ezhou Huahu International Airport is also the hub for major Chinese cargo carrier SF Express. Tim van Leeuwen, Vice President and Head of Consulting at Rotate, noted that the airport continues to grow rapidly due to SF Express expanding its destination network and deepening partnerships with other airlines, such as its joint business agreement with Etihad.
Outbound freighter traffic at Ezhou Huahu International Airport surged, with several airlines reporting dramatic year-on-year growth between July 2024 and June 2025, according to data from Rotate. SF Airlines led the outbound capacity with 124,000 tonnes, up 88% from the previous year. Atlas Air followed with 76,000 tonnes and an exceptional 34,655% growth, indicating a sharp scale-up or new entry into the airport’s network.
Source: Rotate
Other contributors to the rise include Kalitta Air (25,000 tonnes, up 575%), Etihad (15,000 tonnes, up 63%), and SkyLease (13,000 tonnes, up 475%). The data reflects Ezhou Huahu Airport’s emergence as a fast-growing international cargo hub, supported by expanded freighter operations.
According to data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the country handled 8.98 million tonnes of cargo and mail in 2024, marking a 22.1% year-on-year increase and a 19.3% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Rotate data highlights that outbound capacity from Ezhou Huahu International Airport (EHU) reached 327,000 tonnes between July 2024 and June 2025, marking a sharp 289% year-on-year increase. The airport saw strong month-on-month growth through late 2024, briefly dipping in early 2025 before rebounding steadily through mid-year. In comparison, Hong Kong (HKG) and Incheon (ICN) reported much smaller growth rates of 5% and 4% respectively.
Source: Rotate
According to a report in the Global Times, Ezhou Huahu International Airport handles a wide variety of cargo, including general import-export goods, mail, express parcels, and cross-border e-commerce shipments, as per a local customs official. Key exports from the airport currently include electronics such as computers and smartphones, along with daily consumer goods. On the import side, major commodities comprise fresh fruits, seafood, and vehicle parts, among others.
The airport is equipped with a cargo terminal of 23,000 square metres, a freight transit centre of nearly 700,000 square metres, 124 parking stands, and two runways. SF Express holds a 46 percent stake in Hubei International Logistics Airport Co., Ltd., the operator of Ezhou Huahu Airport. The logistics service provider has independently built a freight transport transit centre, a cargo sorting centre, and an aviation base at the new airport. The airport’s cargo operations began on 17 July 2022.
