Eastern China’s manufacturing hub of Ningbo reopened its dedicated cargo air corridor to Liege, Belgium, on 9 January 2026, ending a six-month suspension caused by capacity shifts in the European market. Operated by ASL Airlines Belgium with a B747-400F, the thrice-weekly rotation is scheduled every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The inaugural return flight carried 104 tonnes of outbound goods ranging from automotive parts and lithium-battery components to cross-border e-commerce parcels destined for continental fulfilment centres. Inbound, the carrier brought health-care consignments from Germany for distribution through Ningbo’s flourishing bonded-warehousing network.
![Ningbo Restores Direct Freighter Service to Belgium’s Liege, Broadening China–EU Logistics Options]()
For logistics managers and technical teams who need to hop quickly between China and Europe to oversee these supply chains, VisaHQ can simplify the visa process on both ends. Its platform (https://www.visahq.com/china/) streamlines Chinese and Schengen applications, offers real-time tracking, and provides corporate account tools—helping ensure that auditors, engineers and flight crews spend less time on paperwork and more time keeping freight moving.
Local officials said the route will slash transit times to Benelux and western Germany from nine days (via sea-air combinations) to under 48 hours door-to-door—an advantage for just-in-time exporters and high-value importers. The service also relieves pressure on Shanghai Pudong’s congested freighter slots, giving shippers an alternative gateway.
For global mobility and supply-chain teams the resumption signals further normalisation of China–EU cargo capacity and may help stabilise freight rates that spiked after Red Sea shipping diversions. Companies should update routing guides and consider Ningbo for temperature-controlled or time-sensitive loads previously routed through Shenzhen or Hong Kong.
The inaugural return flight carried 104 tonnes of outbound goods ranging from automotive parts and lithium-battery components to cross-border e-commerce parcels destined for continental fulfilment centres. Inbound, the carrier brought health-care consignments from Germany for distribution through Ningbo’s flourishing bonded-warehousing network.
For logistics managers and technical teams who need to hop quickly between China and Europe to oversee these supply chains, VisaHQ can simplify the visa process on both ends. Its platform (https://www.visahq.com/china/) streamlines Chinese and Schengen applications, offers real-time tracking, and provides corporate account tools—helping ensure that auditors, engineers and flight crews spend less time on paperwork and more time keeping freight moving.
Local officials said the route will slash transit times to Benelux and western Germany from nine days (via sea-air combinations) to under 48 hours door-to-door—an advantage for just-in-time exporters and high-value importers. The service also relieves pressure on Shanghai Pudong’s congested freighter slots, giving shippers an alternative gateway.
For global mobility and supply-chain teams the resumption signals further normalisation of China–EU cargo capacity and may help stabilise freight rates that spiked after Red Sea shipping diversions. Companies should update routing guides and consider Ningbo for temperature-controlled or time-sensitive loads previously routed through Shenzhen or Hong Kong.
