Hainan Airlines opens air logistics channel for local lychee

Hainan's tasty local lychee is ripening and Hainan Airlines of HNA Group is planing to devote 40 planes to help transport the tasty fruit to lychee lovers across China. 

To minimize the adverse impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the production and marketing of lychee, HNA Group has established an effective communication mechanism with fruit merchants and e-commerce platforms, while also linking with Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport to streamline and optimize the cargo transportation process. 

It has made a transportation plan in advance, solved transportation difficulties, and worked together with its partners to promote the smooth flow of the aviation logistics chain.

Lychee has high requirements for freshness and timeliness. The cargo cabin of HNA aircrafts maintain a constant temperature throughout the journey. It only takes two to three hours to deliver the fruit to Shanghai and Beijing, effectively enhancing the competitiveness of Hainan lychee throughout the country, said a lychee merchant surnamed Wang.

Since the beginning of the summer and autumn season flight schedule this year, Hainan Airlines has newly opened 19 inbound and outbound routes, with its total number of routes reaching 112. The domestic shipping capacity of cargo and mail has increased by more than 20 percent on a month-on-month basis.

Apart from building an air logistics channel for Hainan's agricultural products and establishing an efficient global transportation network, Hainan Airlines has also worked to promote Hainan as an export center for Southeast Asia, as well as a global consumer goods import and distribution center, contributing to the construction of the Hainan Pilot Free Trade Port.

A Hainan Airlines plane is loaded with fresh lychee. [Photo/Hainan Daily]