Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China - June 27, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of cargo being loaded onto plane; customs officers working
2. Airport worker waving hand; cabin door closing
3. Various of plane taxiing, flying

The first direct air cargo route shuttling between northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Ethiopia was officially launched on Friday.

Early on Friday morning, a Boeing 777 freighter from Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, arrived at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, and then departed Urumqi for Addis Ababa with a load of 104.8 tons of goods from south China's Guangzhou City.

The new link, operated by Ethiopian Airlines, will have two round flights a week. It promises seamlessly connection of Xinjiang's exporters with African and global logistics networks, while bringing quality beef, lamb, coffee, and horticultural products directly to Chinese consumers.

Customs authorities have offered streamlined procedures, including direct sorting and distribution upon arrival, to enhance logistics efficiency.

This route marks the eighth international cargo route launched from Urumqi this year, following seven new connections to cities including Istanbul, Islamabad, Belgrade, and Rzeszow.

The Urumqi land port now boasts 28 cargo flight routes to 18 countries and regions. Since the beginning of this year, the port has handled 2,400 flights, up by more than 600 percent.