Cargo is loaded onto a plane bound for Los Angeles on Nov 12. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

In the early hours of Nov 12, a fully loaded cargo flight carrying 105 metric tons of goods departed from Hangzhou International Airport, stopping at Incheon and Anchorage before reaching its final destination in Los Angeles.

This marks the fourth international cargo route launched at the airport this year, with previous routes connecting to Miami, Vancouver, and Osaka, along with the resumed route to Mexico City. The airport now operates 16 regular international cargo routes, handling over 100 cargo flights weekly.

November is a peak season for online sales, driven by domestic "Double 11" and international "Black Friday" promotions. According to Hangzhou Customs, the airport typically processes around 500,000 cross-border e-commerce orders daily, with volumes doubling during promotional periods. On the route's maiden flight, nearly 40 percent of the cargo consisted of cross-border e-commerce goods.

As a major hub in North America, Los Angeles offers four-hour access to nearly 88 percent of the region. The new route enhances the export capacity of Chinese e-commerce businesses, improving efficiency and lowering shipping costs.

Hangzhou's commitment to optimizing its global cargo network is yielding significant results. From January to October this year, the airport's cross-border e-commerce exports exceeded 100,200 tons, up 78.45 percent year-on-year. This far surpasses last year's total of 73,600 tons, reinforcing Hangzhou's role as a key logistics hub for global e-commerce.

Cargo is examined by Hangzhou Customs before being loaded onto a plane. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]