A cargo freighter operated by Air Macau arrives at Ningbo Lishe International Airport, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

The recovery of the air cargo market in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province has been brisk following the nation's optimization of its COVID-19 control polices.

As of March 25, some 500 cargo freighters had taken off or arrived at Ningbo Lishe International Airport this year. In March alone, the number of inbound and outbound cargo planes at the airport surpassed 200, which is nearly double that of the same period last year.

Presently, Ningbo has launched direct cargo flights to eight places, including some air cargo hubs like Osaka, Hanoi, Bangkok, Manila, Anchorage and Hong Kong.

In a bid to meet the fast growing air cargo demands, Ningbo Lishe International Airport has made round-the clock inspection services available to all inbound and outbound cargo planes.

The airport had on March 26 implemented its 2023 summer-autumn season flight schedule.

The new season will see flights link Ningbo with 74 other cities, including eight that are overseas. The flight volume in the April-May period is expected to recover to the pre-pandemic level in 2019, while passenger numbers should rebound to more than 80 percent of the same period that year.