First freighter flies Shanghai-St Louis route

A CARGO test flight from China has flown to St. Louis (US) MidAmerica Airport from Shanghai. The flight was the first attempt to coordinate a long-term air cargo route into MidAmerica from Pudong International Airport.

Sky Lease Cargo operated the aircraft while Beijing Expedient Services and Transportation of China chartered the flight, consolidated the freight and coordinated the loading.

Airport officials now expect regular airfreight services starting in the fourth quarter of 2010.

“With the start of this new trade route, we believe the overall cargo operations here at MidAmerica will really take off,” said St. Clair County chairman Mark Kern.