Sunan Shuofang Intl Airport celebrates first flight of all-cargo air route to Mexico City

The first cargo plane to fly the Wuxi-Mexico City route receives a water cannon salute at the Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]

The Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport celebrated the inaugural flight of the Wuxi-Mexico City all-cargo air route with a grand water salute ceremony on April 16. Two fire engines used their water cannons to create a giant arc above the plane as it taxied to its gate.

This marks the first Latin American route opened by the airport located in Xinwu district, Wuxi, and also the first intercontinental cargo route opened this year in the city.

Operating three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, the Wuxi-Mexico City route is the only one of its kind in China to be run by a Mexican airline.

"The route greatly improves the efficiency of air transport from Wuxi and surrounding cities to Latin America," said a person in charge of the airport. "More Latin American merchants can purchase high-quality and affordable Chinese goods directly, while Chinese businesses can go global."

Mexico, as a key gateway to South America, is an important transfer hub for intermodal freight. Meanwhile, Latin America, as an important emerging market globally, is becoming a new target for Chinese companies to expand overseas.

Cargo will be transported to Mexico City through the new route. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]

Through the new route, products such as integrated circuits from Wuxi, textiles from Suzhou, automotive parts from Changzhou, and stuffed toys from Yangzhou can reach Mexico on the same day and then be quickly transferred to other areas in Latin America. Additionally, Mexican fruits such as blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, and avocados will now be more accessible and able to be delivered to Chinese people's tables faster.

According to business analysts, the route will help promote trade between China and Mexico and play a significant role in maintaining the stability of the global supply chain and promoting all-round opening up.

Since the beginning of this year, Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport has been expanding its global cargo route network. In addition to the Mexico route, the airport currently operates a route to Leipzig, Germany three times a week and its cargo route to Seoul, South Korea, has been increased to one flight per day.

A celebration ceremony for the first flight of the Wuxi-Mexico City all-cargo air route is held at the Sunan Shuofang International Airport. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]