China News Service, Changsha, April 3 (Xiang Yipeng Wu Xiaona) On April 3, the "Addis Ababa-Liège-Changsha-Addis Ababa" fifth freedom rights cargo route opened in Changsha. This is Hunan’s first fifth freedom rights cargo route.
The opening of this route will greatly improve the accessibility and transportation timeliness of international air cargo at Changsha Airport, and promote the accelerated export of high value-added products such as e-commerce products, pharmaceutical products, and high-tech products to all of Africa and some countries in South America.
Fifth freedom rights, also known as third-country transportation rights, refer to the right for airlines of a country to stop and carry passengers and cargo in a third country while operating a certain international route.
It is reported that Ethiopian Airlines, the carrier airline of the flight, is the first African airline to enter the Chinese market. "We will continue to be committed to promoting the construction of Changsha's international aviation hub, expanding more routes, opening more passenger and cargo flights, and making greater contributions to the commercial and economic exchanges between China, Africa and Europe." said the person in charge of Ethiopian Airlines.
The relevant person in charge of the Hunan Airport Management Group said that the opening of this route will further smoothen the air cargo channels between Hunan and Europe and Africa, and will play an important link in the economic and trade cooperation of "Hunan products go to the sea, and high-quality products enter Hunan", and will serve as an important link for Asia. It provides more convenient channels and a broader platform for economic and trade exchanges between China, Europe and Africa.
It is reported that since the opening of the first all-cargo route in 2017, Changsha has opened a total of 24 route destinations. In the first quarter of this year, Changsha Airport achieved an international passenger throughput of 211,000, a year-on-year increase of 559.4%; an international cargo and mail throughput of 15,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 28.4%. (over)