Dhaka: Turkish Cargo, the cargo division of Turkish Airlines, and Air China Cargo, the all-cargo subsidiary of Air China, have partnered to address growing air cargo demand between Turkey and China.

Under the initiative, Air China Cargo has started operating thrice weekly scheduled freight flights linking Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Istanbul, Turkish Cargo said in a social media post recently.

An Airbus A330-200P2F freighter operated the inaugural flight. However, the official statement did not specify which aircraft type will be deployed on the route.

Air China Cargo currently operates 13 Boeing 777Fs, two 747-400Fs, and eight Airbus A330-200P2Fs, while Turkish Cargo's fleet comprises nine Boeing 777Fs and 10 Airbus A330-200Fs.

Turkish Cargo highlighted that the new route would support efficient cargo connections from Chengdu across its broader global network, while reinforcing Istanbul's position as a key transfer hub.

The carrier is targeting significant long-term expansion under Turkish Airlines' 2033 Vision, which envisions a total fleet of 813 aircraft, including a freighter fleet growing to 44 units. It has three 777Fs and five Airbus A350Fs on order.

To further bolster cargo operations, Turkish Airlines announced in January the second phase of its SmartIST air cargo terminal alongside a new e-commerce facility, signaling continued investment in Turkish Cargo's infrastructure and growth trajectory.