China's first privately owned freight carrier, Jetwin Air Cargo, has abandoned plans to set up a hub at Zhuhai airport, citing the lack of international cargo traffic at the facility.
The Hong Kong-invested company signed an agreement on Monday with Shenzhen's Baoan International Airport, from where it will operate cargo flights to several mainland coastal cities early next year.
A company executive said Zhuhai was no longer an attractive option as it seemed unable to attract the international cargo volume levels Jetwin needed. The company positions itself as a feeder cargo carrier, providing domestic services for international operators such as Federal Express (FedEx).
'We won't consider Zhuhai at the moment as FedEx is unlikely to set up a hub there,' said the executive.
Zhuhai airport's attempts to bill itself as south China's cargo hub were dealt a blow last year when air cargo giant FedEx signalled preliminary intent to use the $18 billion Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou instead.
The Memphis-based carrier signed a framework agreement with the facility that would see the company relocate its Asia-Pacific hub to Guangzhou after its lease at Subic Bay in the Philippines expired in 2007.