SF Airlines launches China’s first scheduled direct cargo to Sri Lanka with Kunming-Colombo route

Monday, 30 June 2025 02:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SF Airlines yesterday inaugurated China’s first scheduled all-cargo direct flight to Sri Lanka with the launch of its Kunming-Colombo route.

The new service operated by B757-200 freighters twice weekly with a weekly cargo capacity exceeding 110 metric tons, marks a significant milestone in the expansion of SF Airlines into South Asia, enhancing logistics connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), regional economic growth and boosting China-Sri Lanka trade flows.

Primary exports include electronics, machinery parts, textiles, cross-border e-commerce parcels, and fresh flowers. Key imports feature Sri Lankan Ceylon tea, spices, and other specialty agricultural products, along with Indian electronics and Maldivian seafood transshipped via Colombo.

As China’s gateway to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean Rim — and a major advanced manufacturing hub in western China — Kunming has vibrant cross-border logistics. Colombo, strategically located on key Indian Ocean shipping lanes, is Sri Lanka’s largest city and commercial centre, dubbed the “Crossroads of the East” for its connectivity to Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern markets. This new route establishes an efficient, stable air logistics corridor for China-Sri Lanka trade, boosting regional economic cooperation and industrial integration. It will attract global enterprises to Kunming, supporting the city’s development as a domestic circulation hub and dual-circulation gateway. The route further advances Yunnan’s aviation economy ecosystem, strengthens its aviation supply chain, and deepens its integration into the BRI as China’s economic hub facing South and Southeast Asia.

SF Airlines has expanded its South Asian network in recent years, serving Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Amritsar (India); Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi (Pakistan); Dhaka (Bangladesh); and Kathmandu (Nepal). With Colombo’s addition, its South Asian destinations now exceed 10 cities. This expanded network enables future intermodal transport chains like “Ezhou-Kunming-Colombo” via SF’s Ezhou Hub, unlocking greater logistics demand and growth potential.

Operating Asia’s largest all-cargo fleet of 90 freighters, SF Airlines remains committed to provide secure, efficient, and competitive air logistics services. Launching the Colombo route demonstrates its efforts to optimise global networks, advance the BRI, and facilitate regional trade. The carrier will continue refining routes and services based on market demand, supporting deeper integration into international supply chains and building smoother global trade corridors.

SF Airlines

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.