Schipol boosts China connection

  Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands has strengthened its freighter connections with China and Hong Kong, following the start of China Southern Airlines’ twice weekly Boeing 777 all-cargo services to Chongqing.
   Chongqing is a hub for computer manufacturing, and is home to plants for nine of the world’s top brands. The area’s fast-growing industry is fueling economic growth that has produced strong consumer demand for imports, as well as providing export traffic.
   The new flights complement China Southern’s existing services from Amsterdam to Shanghai and Guangzhou, and bring to nine the total number of destinations in China served by freighters direct from Schiphol.
   China Southern is one of seven freighter operators now serving China and Hong Kong from the Dutch airport. The other airlines include Air France KLM, Martinair, China Cargo Airlines, Jade Cargo, Cathay Pacific and Airbridge Cargo.
   Schiphol serves 21 freighter operators, collectively representing an average of 325 movements per week, serving 70 destinations in 45 countries.
   “As the airline is a member of Skyteam, these new (China Southern) flights offer immediate potential for connections with Air France KLM over Schiphol, giving both airlines access to their respective networks,” said Enno Osinga, Schiphol senior vice president of cargo.
   “Our links with China will develop further when China Eastern joins Skyteam, as this would allow both China Cargo Airlines (part-owned by China Eastern, and already serving Schiphol) and Air France KLM to tap into China Eastern’s domestic network as well.”