Hong Kong Air Cargo has launched a new service this week connecting London Stansted with Hong Kong, one of the world's most important economic hubs.

The Chinese carrier has selected Stansted for its first ever UK service, which will initially operate twice weekly to Hong Kong International using an Airbus A330-200.

The airline has launched the route to target the growing market for online shopping and increasing trade between the UK and China.

Stansted Airport's Aviation Director, Simon Gorrighan, welcomed the news and said it would give UK businesses and those in London and the Eastern region direct access to the Chinese market. “We are delighted Hong Kong Air Cargo has chosen Stansted for its first UK service. The decision demonstrates the confidence both countries have in their trade relationship, which is great news for businesses across the UK, and particularly those seeking to enter the Chinese market from London and the East of England. London Stansted is the UK’s second busiest airport for dedicated air cargo traffic and sits at the heart of the London-Stansted-Cambridge growth corridor. With the region growing and London’s economic activity shifting towards the east, Stansted is ideally placed to support businesses trading internationally and looking to compete in the global marketplace.”

Captain Clifford Hung, President and Chief Operations Officer of Hong Kong Air Cargo, said: “We are delighted to launch our new e-commerce route to London Stansted, a key milestone for our international expansion plan 2024. This route will provide our customers with more choices and flexibility for their air cargo logistics needs and create more value and opportunities for our stakeholders and partners. We are grateful for the support and cooperation from the Hong Kong International Airport, the London Stansted Airport, and the relevant authorities in both cities. We look forward to strengthening our collaboration and friendship with them.”

A major cargo hub in the UK, London Stansted offers easy access to London and other major UK cities, making it a popular route for freight forwarders.

It’s the busiest for all-freighter traffic among the London airports and transports thousands of tonnes of textiles, fruit and vegetables, electronics, pharmaceuticals, mail, horses and Formula One equipment to destinations across the globe.

Hong Kong Air Cargo was founded in 2017 and operates a modern fleet of six all-cargo aircraft, including five A330-200Fs and one A330-300P2F.
 
With routes covering Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, the airline connects major destinations such as Almaty, Bangkok, Chennai, Delhi, Dubai, Hanoi, Istanbul, Manila, Milan, Osaka, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, and London.