Longhao starts twice-weekly China freighter service at East Midlands

Priya Raman

Central China Longhao Airlines began twice-weekly Boeing 747-400 freighter flights from Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport to East Midlands Airport on November 2, marking the carrier’s first operation in the United Kingdom. The inaugural aircraft was the dedicated all-cargo version of Boeing’s 747.

What does the new service change for East Midlands?

The route adds another international cargo operator to a growing roster at an airport expanding its freight operation and recruiting a new head of cargo development for longer-term growth. It also places East Midlands on a China-Europe sector operated by a carrier already serving Asia and Europe, extending the airport’s scheduled international network.

For Longhao, the East Midlands gateway opens its first UK market and adds a UK endpoint to its Asian and European cargo network. For cargo airlines and shippers, the immediate change is additional twice-weekly freight capacity connecting Zhengzhou with the UK.

The service is operating, rather than merely announced: Longhao flew the inaugural 747-400 freighter on November 2 and has stated a twice-weekly schedule. The announcement does not specify departure days, aircraft rotations, contracted tonnage, freight rates, cargo payload or the share of available capacity already sold.

Adam Andrews, commercial director at East Midlands Airport, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome Central China Longhao as a new airline operating to East Midlands as its gateway into the UK. Longhao’s decision to start operations here provides further evidence of the airport’s growing strength and reputation within the rapidly evolving Chinese air cargo market.”

He added: “We are continuing to attract more cargo operators, who understand that our great central location and available capacity helped by a 24/7 operation together make us an unbeatable proposition in the UK.” The airport’s 24/7 operation means round-the-clock.

Andrews presented the airport’s central location, available capacity and round-the-clock operation as commercial advantages in attracting cargo carriers. The announcement supplies no comparative handling charges, utilization rates (the share of capacity used) or operating-cost figures, so those advantages remain claims rather than a tested cost advantage.

Recent freight growth provides context, not route proof

East Midlands Airport reported a 6.3% increase in cargo volumes, described as equivalent to 36,000 tonnes against September of the previous year. Because that comparison predates the November 2 launch, the gain cannot be attributed to Longhao and does not establish demand for the new route.

The figure nevertheless establishes recent freight expansion at the airport and provides the operating backdrop for adding another carrier. East Midlands did not publish absolute cargo volumes, shipment values or load factors (the share of available capacity sold), limiting assessment of how much additional freight the market can absorb.

For network planning, the new service expands East Midlands’ scheduled links to China and gives Longhao a first UK gateway. The economic effect will depend on booked tonnage, rates and handling costs; none of those figures accompanied the launch, and no new Chinese destinations were announced.

The operator behind the route

Henan Civil Aviation Development & Investment Group restructured Longhao in 2019. The state-owned carrier is based in Henan Province, operates cargo services across Asia and into Europe and has played a role in developing Zhengzhou as an international air cargo hub.

That background places the route within a state-owned carrier’s existing Asian and European operating footprint. The announcement did not disclose fleet size, aircraft ownership arrangements or the group’s financial commitment to the route, so it does not show whether Longhao sees East Midlands as a standalone operation or part of a wider UK expansion.

The launch information names no regulator and gives no detail about UK operating permissions for the service. The first aircraft movement and stated twice-weekly frequency establish an operating start; the announcement does not commit Longhao to future routes, additional frequencies or fleet growth.

Freight expansion reaches the organisation

East Midlands is recruiting a new head of cargo development to support its longer-term freight growth plans. The appointment would add specialist leadership while the airport adds operators and international links, but no hiring deadline, capital budget or expansion target accompanied the recruitment.

For East Midlands, the practical change is concrete: a new twice-weekly 747-400 freighter service, a carrier with an Asian and European operating base, and another potential customer for the airport’s advertised round-the-clock capacity. The next test is whether that service converts into sustained freight tonnage and further operator interest as the airport fills its cargo-development leadership role.

Until schedules, rates and booked volumes become public, the route’s economic contribution remains uncertain. The next milestones are sustained freight tonnage, public schedule and rate data, and additional cargo operators joining the airport.