SIA Cargo owns 16 percent of the Shanghai-based China Cargo Airlines and the deal to jointly offer freighter services between the two home hubs forms part of a larger series of initiatives intended to offer mutual benefits.

These include system integration and more integrated ground handling at Shanghai Pudong International airport and Singapore Changi, with the effect of improving transshipment times.

“We have anticipated a greater partnership with China Cargo Airlines since we signed the joint venture agreement in 2010,” commented Tan Kai Ping, Singapore Airlines Cargo president.

“The new joint service agreement provides more flexibility and better services to customers as it provides more choices of flights for air cargo shipments between Singapore and China,” he observed.

Zhu Yimin, president of China Cargo Airlines, pointed out: “The joint freighter services will enable the two airlines to tap into each other’s network through our hubs at Shanghai and Singapore.

“There will be more direct access to destinations in domestic China on China Cargo’s network whilst we will be able to tap (into) Singapore Airlines Cargo’s network in the Middle East, Africa, Australia and Latin America, thereby providing a more comprehensive and exclusive network for customers of both airlines.”