Ningbo launches first direct cargo flight to Russia

The first all-cargo flight from Ningbo to Russia is being loaded. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

Ningbo has launched its first regular all-cargo flight to Moscow, creating a faster and more efficient air corridor for high-value exports from the region.

On Nov 11, a cargo plane carrying 26 metric tons of electronics, computers, and mobile devices took off from Ningbo Lishe International Airport, marking a milestone in the city's international logistics network. The route will operate twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays, using Aeroflot-Russian Airlines' TU204C freighter and managed by Beijing Deyuan International Freight Forwarding.

The company's manager highlighted the significant advantages of the new air connection, noting that it boosts logistics efficiency by over 60 percent compared with sea transport, while also lowering supply chain costs and strengthening the competitiveness of "Made in Zhejiang" products in Russia.

As a key manufacturing hub in the southern Yangtze River Delta region, Ningbo excels in lithium batteries, photovoltaic modules, and consumer electronics. In the first three quarters of 2025, the city's port exported lithium-ion batteries worth 15.07 billion yuan ($2.11 billion), up 146.3 percent year-on-year, with average prices increasing 117.8 percent. Due to the high value and time-sensitive nature of these products, air freight offers significant advantages.

The new direct flight will shorten delivery times and strengthen access to Russia and Central and Eastern European markets. Earlier this year, Ningbo airport's Xiangying Cargo Terminal expanded its global network by opening or resuming routes to destinations including Miami and Liege.