(Photo: China Southern Airlines)
China Southern Airlines Cargo is ramping up efforts to ensure fresh lychees from southern China make their way swiftly to markets across the country and around the world. As the lychee harvest hits its peak, air freight volumes have soared—over 7,000 tons of the fruit have been transported by China Southern since January 2025, with shipments experiencing a 40% week-on-week increase in late June alone.
Domestically, shipments have been sent to major hubs including Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Guiyang, while international destinations have included Amsterdam, London, and Toronto.
(Photo: China Southern Airlines)
To meet rising demand, China Southern has implemented a specialized logistics strategy involving tailored cargo plans, increased aircraft capacity, and chartered flights. Since June 19, seven lychee-dedicated flights have carried more than 100 tons of the fruits to cities such as Qingdao and Xi'an.
Given the fruits sensitivity to time and temperature, the airline has rolled out enhanced cold-chain procedures. Working with growers in Guangdong, Hainan, and Guangxi, China Southern has promoted pre-cooling treatment at the source and reserved cold storage at its cargo stations. This year's upgrades allow lychees to maintain freshness for up to 10 days during transit.
Reporter: Zeng Xiangxing
Editor: Hu Nan, James, Shen He
