On August 20, Royal Air Philippines launched a daily all‑cargo service between Nanjing and Clark, using an Airbus A321 freighter. The new route provides a stable, high‑frequency air cargo link between the two cities, bolstering the Yangtze River Delta’s air corridor to ASEAN.
The service enables efficient two‑way cargo flows. It imports Philippine fruits, seafood and specialty goods into China, while exporting e‑commerce parcels and high‑end manufactured products from the Yangtze River Delta. Dedicated freighter capacity delivers faster transit compared with ocean shipping and greater cargo volume than passenger‑aircraft bellyhold capacity—making China‑Philippines trade links faster and more reliable than ever.
As a multimodal transport hub within the Yangtze River Delta, Nanjing Lukou International Airport has an integrated ground‑transport network covering rail, inland waterways and highways. Cargo landed at the airport can be rapidly redistributed via Yangtze River waterways, high‑speed rail and expressways. Its robust logistics infrastructure lets local firms complete customs clearance at their local airport. Nanjing Lukou Airport also gives export‑oriented enterprises across neighboring cities access to high‑grade air cargo capacity, cutting overall logistics costs and shortening lead times.
To meet strict timelines for perishable and cold‑chain cargo, Eastern Airport Group has partnered with customs and border‑control authorities to roll out a special clearance scheme that streamlines security and customs procedures. Under this expedited airside direct release process, the entire workflow from aircraft unloading to warehouse dispatch has been significantly shortened. This efficient clearance capability enables Nanjing Lukou Airport to handle time‑sensitive cargo on par with leading regional cargo hubs.
Since the start of this year, Nanjing has steadily expanded its international cargo network to Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe and the Americas. Backed by a solid electronics and high‑end manufacturing base, alongside a booming cross‑border e‑commerce sector, the city is evolving from a conventional transit hub into a key logistics gateway linking China’s vast consumer market with production networks across RCEP member states.
Looking ahead, Nanjing aims to forge stronger partnerships with global carriers and top logistics providers, extending its cargo network to more destinations worldwide. Closer integration between logistics and industrial supply chains will reinforce Nanjing’s gateway role, attract high‑quality international businesses and investment, and support the Yangtze River Delta’s broader push for greater openness.
