General overview: Out of China, the air market remains highly active, with capacity fully utilised across all routes. Air freight rates continue to increase as export volumes for e-commerce cargo steadily grow.
In Bangladesh, the air cargo market is currently stable – no congestion is reported in the cargo village. However, only one of the four EDS machines is operational. As a result, LHR-bound shipments are being prioritised for scanning with the operational EDS machine and shipments to other destinations are experiencing extended delivery delays.
Shanghai to London
- Airport operations are currently normal
- Hauliers are working as normal
- No flight cancellations
- Weather is normal
- Space is very tight
- Air rates are increasing
Shanghai to New York
- Airport operations are currently normal
- Hauliers are working as normal
- No flight cancellations
- Weather is normal
- Space is very tight
- Air rates are increasing
Shanghai to Los Angeles
- Airport operations are currently normal
- Hauliers are working as normal
- No flight cancellations
- Weather is normal
- Space is very tight
- Air rates are increasing
Shanghai to Frankfurt
- Airport operations are currently normal
- Hauliers are working as normal
- No flight cancellations
- Weather is normal
- Space is very tight
- Air rates are increasing
Shanghai to Melbourne
- Airport operations are currently normal
- Hauliers are working as normal
- No flight cancellations
- Weather is normal
- Space is very tight
- Air rates are increasing
Shanghai to Sydney
- Airport operations are currently normal
- Hauliers are working as normal
- No flight cancellations
- Weather is normal
- Space is very tight
- Air rates are increasing
Market intel
China unveils unmanned cargo drone with 5-ton payload
CHINESE aviation start up Air White Whale has unveiled its first unmanned cargo aircraft, which the company says is the world's largest transport drone, reports China Daily.
At a ceremony in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, the first W5000 rolled off the company's production line and made its public debut.
Hu Shandong, chairman and CEO of the Beijing start up, said at the ceremony his company is convinced that large cargo drones will become a pillar in the air freight industry, due to their high operational efficiency and competitive costs.
According to Air White Whale, the W5000 is a twin-turboprop drone with a maximum take-off weight of 10.8 metric tons, a payload capacity of 5 tons and an inner cargo space of more than 65 cubic metres.
The aircraft is about 22.9 metres long and has a wingspan of 22.7 metres. It is capable of flying 2,600 kilometres in a single flight.
The drone is highly economical - its transportation costs are about 60 per cent of that of any manned cargo plane with a similar carrying capacity - and each ground crew can operate up to seven such drones at the same time, Air White Whale said.
The W5000's airworthiness certification application has been submitted to the Civil Aviation Administration of China for review and approval, and the first model is expected to be delivered to its user in 2026, the company said. It also noted that the drone will be displayed at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition that will take place in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, in November.
The drone will be able to reach southeast and central Asian nations, as well as Russia and Japan. Several foreign nations such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan have signed intent orders, the company said.
Industry observers say cargo drones are expected to create many business opportunities as China relaxes its control over low-altitude airspace and the number of the nation's online shopping businesses continues to grow.
The Aviation Industry Corp of China, the country's leading State-owned aircraft manufacturer, and several private aircraft makers have built various types of cargo drones for testing and hope to put them into commercial operation in the near future.
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