URUMQI (Xinhua) — A new air freight route was launched Thursday linking Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Almaty in Kazakhstan. It was the second international all-cargo air route launched by Xinjiang following a route between Urumqi and Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan in May.

Charter flight service will be operated by SF Airlines, the aviation branch of China’s express giant SF Express, twice a week, using a Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a maximum loading capacity of 28 tonnes.

Using all-cargo freighters is more convenient and efficient than the traditional way of storing goods on passenger aircraft, according to Zhang Wei, deputy general manager of Xinjiang Tianyuan International Logistics Co., Ltd.

Xinjiang, China’s northwest doorway to Central and West Asia, sits along the ancient Silk Road. As China revives the ancient trade route, Xinjiang turns from a remote border region into a forefront for international logistics services.

In the first half of this year, around 73,500 tonnes of cargo and mail were transported through Diwopu International Airport in Urumqi, up 12% year on year.

The opening of the new air route will make it more convenient for Xinjiang enterprises to go global and boost local economy and industrial development, said Wan Xiang, general manager of a local logistics company.