Qingdao in Shandong province has opened a new international air cargo transit service linking London and Sydney as part of its efforts to build a major aviation logistics hub in northern China.

A shipment of medical lifting equipment which recently departed from London and transited through Qingdao Airport en route to Sydney was operated by Capital Airlines.

According to airport officials, the new route allows goods to move from origin to destination under a single transport document, improving efficiency and reducing handling time, while also strengthening Qingdao's position in the global cargo network.

With the support of local port authorities and customs officials, Qingdao Airport completed security checks, transit declarations and transfer procedures before the inbound flight landed, ensuring smooth end-to-end logistics operations.

Besides London and Sydney, Capital Airlines also operates two other intercontinental routes connecting Moscow and Melbourne in Australia, providing a solid route network for expanding air-to-air transit services linking Europe and Oceania.

Enhancing the capacity and competitiveness of its aviation hub has been listed as a key task by local transport authorities in Qingdao this year. Planned measures include launching and expanding international passenger and cargo routes, maintaining stable intercontinental services, increasing flights to Southeast Asia, and opening more routes to member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Efforts will also be made to improve cargo transit channels connecting domestic destinations with Japan and South Korea via Qingdao to enhance the city's aviation logistics service capacity.