China Southern Anticipates Growth With Shenzhen Cargo Center

ByBridgeNews China Southern Airlines is planning to build and operate Shenzhen International Airport's biggest cargo center with a handling capacity of 250,000 metric tons, intensifying the competition with Hong Kong for Guangdong's burgeoning exports, according to the Aug. 16 South China Morning Post. The cargo center, expected to begin operations in 2001, would more than double Shenzhen airport's annual handling capacity to 450,000 metric tons, the paper said. The move forms part of China Southern's strategy to boost cargo operations before the mainland's accession to the World Trade Organization -- using Shenzhen as its international hub. The carrier's existing cargo services from Shenzhen to the United States are operating at almost 100% capacity, and it is expecting demand growth to accelerate in the coming years.