Ezhou Huahu Airport cargo volumes double as global routes expand

Ezhou Huahu International Airport in China has more than doubled its international freight throughput in 2025, emerging as a key air cargo hub in central China. In the first three quarters of the year, the airport’s international airfreight volumes rose by 138 percent year-on-year. It added 24 new global routes during this period, strengthening its logistics network and boosting its connectivity for international trade.

The airport marked its third anniversary on 17 July 2025. By then, it had handled over 249,000 tonnes of international cargo and mail in the first half of the year, a 261 percent increase compared to 2024. Nearly 6,500 international and regional flights were operated in the same period, up 333 per cent year-on-year. Cumulatively, Ezhou Huahu has managed more than 60,000 cargo flights and exceeded 2 million tonnes in total cargo and mail throughput.

Ezhou Huahu now operates 45 international and regional cargo routes and 59 domestic routes covering 54 destinations across all provincial-level regions in China. The airport’s network enables overnight delivery across China and next-day access to major global markets. Its first overseas warehouse in Milan is operational, serving 16 international cargo carriers, including Atlas Air, Etihad Cargo, and Maersk.

Located strategically in central China, the airport is within a 1.5-hour flight of areas generating 90 per cent of the country’s GDP and about eight hours from most major global markets. This location supports fast transport of high-value and time-sensitive goods such as fruits and seafood. During summer, the “lychee air route” moves about two million fresh lychees each day, alongside imports like cherries, durians, and salmon.

The airport’s growth has spurred the development of an industrial cluster in its vicinity. Within two months of opening, the Ezhou Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone had signed agreements with 46 enterprises and registered 140 firms. Over the past three years, 225 aviation-related projects worth over RMB 100 million each have been launched, including manufacturing and biopharmaceutical ventures.

To manage rising cargo volumes, customs procedures have been streamlined, cutting clearance times by over 30 per cent. Some shipments now clear customs in as little as 15 minutes.

Ezhou Huahu International Airport continues to expand its global presence, positioning itself as a fast and efficient gateway for Chinese exports to reach international markets.