Chinese online retailer JD.com explores move into aviation to improve logistics

The firm is investing heavily in automation to cut costs and boost efficiency

JD.com, the Beijing-based e-commerce firm, created a separate logistics unit JD Logistics in April. Photo: Reuters

Online retailer JD.com is exploring plans to enter the aviation sector after China’s largest private courier SF Express last month bought two Boeing 747-400 freighters. 

“I can only say aviation will be important [for logistics] in the future,” Bill Fu Bing, head of logistics planning and development at JD.com, told reporters at a global logistics forum in Beijing. “Do we need to buy our own planes or build our own airports? This is something we are looking at." 

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