Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, launches its first Hangzhou-Kuala Lumpur cargo service flight on March 31. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, launched its first Hangzhou-Kuala Lumpur cargo service flight on March 31.

This is the first freight air route from Zhejiang to Kuala Lumpur. On the first day, the chartered plane carried a large number of medical supplies donated by Chinese companies and packages to Southeast Asia.

The route will also make it easier for goods from Southeast Asia to be transported to China.

The opening of the flight comes after the pandemic caused China to suspend many flights to reduce imported cases.

As a result, it has been taking an extra week for parcels from China to reach Southeast Asia. 

However, the new flight takes just four hours to send packages from China to Malaysia, and businessmen in Malaysia are also offered more convenient logistics choices.

According to Yang Haiming, director of the Tmall overseas logistics department of Cainiao International, the flight will run five times a week.

In addition, Cainiao is now contacting airlines to convert passenger flights to cargo flights.

Tao Lixin, general manager of Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Aviation Logistics Co, said that the new cargo route will help facilitate trade between Zhejiang and Southeast Asian countries.

At present, the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport operates cargo flights to many cities in Asia, Europe and the United States, including Novosibirsk and Moscow in Russia, Riga in Latvia, Liege in Belgium, New York in the United States, and Manila in the Philippines.

A large number of medical donations and other items from Chinese companies are sent to Southeast Asia on March 31 via the newly-opened cargo flight linking Hangzhou and Kuala Lumpur. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]