Company profile
Air France Cargo is the cargo brand of the French flag carrier Air France. Air France was founded in 1933 and set up a dedicated cargo department in 1972. After merging with KLM in 2004 to form the Air France-KLM group, cargo has been run as Air France-KLM Cargo, with its head office in Tremblay-en-France, France, and twin hubs at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS). The carrier codes are IATA AF and ICAO AFR, the radio call sign is AIRFRANS, the cargo website is afklcargo.com and the passenger and general website is airfrance.com.
On fleet and capacity structure, Air France no longer operates freighters of its own; since 2015 cargo capacity has come from passenger belly holds and from group freighter capacity. Group freighter capacity is flown by subsidiary Martinair with Boeing 747-400F aircraft, sold centrally by Air France-KLM Cargo and due to be replaced progressively by Airbus A350F freighters in 2027 and 2028. On the passenger side, the group long-haul fleet is built around the Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 777-300ER, and about 80% of cargo tonnage travels in belly holds. For Chinese shippers the value of Air France Cargo is the CDG and AMS twin gateway into Europe, distributing China-origin cargo to major European cities through Paris or Amsterdam and extending to points in North America, the Middle East, Africa and South America.
On China business, Air France passenger flights provide steady belly capacity between major Chinese cities and Paris: Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is served daily and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is served daily. Beyond belly capacity, Hong Kong (HKG) also has Martinair freighter service connecting to Amsterdam via Dubai, four times a week since the route resumed in September 2024. Guangzhou and Shenzhen have no freighter service of their own, so shippers connect through Shanghai, Hong Kong or a European gateway. Cargo originating in China can connect through CDG or AMS to all of Europe on one waybill and extend to North America, the Middle East and francophone Africa.
On two-way flows, the outbound direction is dominated by Chinese exports of electronic and information products, textiles and garments, e-commerce parcels, auto parts and higher-value industrial goods; the return direction is dominated by European pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, wine, premium consumer goods and fresh food, which are more demanding on temperature control and transit time. Air France Cargo is a SkyTeam Cargo member and coordinates capacity with alliance carriers such as China Eastern Airlines Logistics, so Chinese shippers can draw on multi-carrier combinations within the alliance.
Looking at capacity structure from China, daily belly space in Shanghai and Beijing provides the steady base load, while the Hong Kong freighter provides capacity for volume and heavy cargo, and the two can be combined to suit commodity and transit time: small and medium general cargo, express parcels and e-commerce move on the daily belly schedule, while industrial lots, heavy cargo and outsize pieces connect to the freighter via Hong Kong. Shippers in second-tier Chinese cities can consolidate by domestic leg to one of the three gateways. The European distribution capability at Paris and Amsterdam supports delivery to multiple points. Capacity and loading conditions at each gateway are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
International air services connecting from China
Air France Cargo service from China rests on belly capacity as the everyday base, supported by group freighter capacity, covering three directions. To Europe, cargo is distributed through Paris CDG and Amsterdam AMS to major cities including London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Copenhagen, Zurich and Vienna. Across the Atlantic, CDG and AMS connect to North American gateways including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto and Montreal. Southbound and eastbound, CDG connects to main points in North Africa, West Africa and the Middle East, covering francophone Africa and China's export markets in the Middle East.
Looking at export commodities from China, electronic and information products, consumer electronics, e-commerce parcels and fast-fashion garments suit the daily belly capacity from Shanghai and Beijing to Paris, with distribution onward from CDG across Europe; time-critical pharmaceuticals, fresh produce and high-value pieces can use temperature-controlled products and priority capacity; bulk industrial goods and heavy cargo can combine with freighter capacity via Hong Kong. On the return leg, European cosmetics, wine, pharmaceuticals and premium consumer goods come in moderate lots at higher value, which suits belly capacity, with temperature-controlled categories handled through the cold chain. Actual payload and capacity are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
On gateway choice, shippers in East China should look first at the daily belly capacity from Shanghai Pudong, shippers in North China can use Beijing Capital, and shippers in South China and the Greater Bay Area can combine Hong Kong belly capacity with the freighter. Pharmaceuticals and fresh produce with tight transit requirements suit priority capacity and temperature-controlled products, while industrial goods with steady volume can lock capacity weekly in advance. The spread of European destination cities decides the distribution path: CDG suits western and southern Europe, AMS suits northern and eastern Europe, and the twin hubs back each other up, so capacity can switch hubs when peak season tightens.
| Connection direction | Main destinations | What it means for Chinese shippers |
|---|---|---|
| European hub deconsolidation and distribution | Paris CDG and Amsterdam AMS, extending to London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan and Zurich | Chinese cargo reaches both European hubs on one waybill, with same-day or next-day connections to major European cities |
| Transatlantic extension | New York JFK, Chicago ORD, Los Angeles LAX, Toronto YYZ and others | Connections to the North American market through the European hubs, suited to multi-leg intercontinental routings |
| Africa and the Middle East | Main points in North and West Africa and Middle East gateways | Covers francophone African markets and matches China's export trade with Africa |
| Backhaul cargo | European pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, wine, premium consumer goods and fresh produce | Two-way capacity matching that improves overall logistics economics |
The table summarises the main directions from public sources. Times are local. Actual schedules vary with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Network from China to the Paris hub
The diagram shows, from a Eurasia perspective, how China-origin cargo is distributed through the CDG and AMS twin hubs. The red arcs are the mainline from Chinese gateways to the European hubs and the white arcs are the European and transatlantic distribution directions; actual points and schedules are subject to carrier confirmation on the day.
Freight advantages for Chinese shippers
Twin hubs CDG and AMS
Paris and Amsterdam sit at the western and eastern ends of Europe, and the twin-hub layout gives Chinese cargo two entry points into Europe, with more flight density and schedule choice and the two backing each other up in peak season.
Steady daily belly schedules
Shanghai Pudong and Beijing Capital are served daily, with belly capacity released on a fixed schedule, which suits the everyday rhythm of e-commerce replenishment, fast fashion and small to medium lots.
SkyTeam Cargo coordination
Air France Cargo is a SkyTeam Cargo member and coordinates capacity with alliance carriers such as China Eastern Airlines Cargo, so collection and dispatch within China are supported by the alliance network.
Temperature control and pharmaceutical experience
The Pharma product line draws on cold chain facilities at CDG and provides temperature-controlled containers, temperature logging and monitoring throughout, which suits Chinese pharmaceutical companies moving temperature-sensitive goods in and out.
Premium consumer goods
Return cargo from Europe is mainly cosmetics, wine, perfume and premium consumer goods, and the cargo terminal has security and inspection processes for high-value goods, which suits import e-commerce and brand supply chains.
Balanced two-way flows
Chinese industrial goods and e-commerce outbound, European high-value consumer goods inbound: matching the two directions reduces idle return capacity, and Chinese shippers get a steadier supply of space.
Taken together, these advantages form the case for Air France Cargo: twin-hub schedule density for everyday shipments, belly and freighter combined to cover several cargo types, alliance reach into second-tier cities, and temperature-controlled and high-value processes supporting pharmaceutical and luxury trade. Chinese shippers can choose the best hub and capacity combination for the commodity and destination market after assessment by our team.
Aircraft types and capacity mix
Air France Cargo capacity comes from group freighters and passenger belly holds. Freighter capacity is flown by Martinair with Boeing 747-400F aircraft, whose nose door opens to load outsize cargo, with a maximum payload of about 110 tonnes per aircraft, covering the connecting route from Hong Kong. On the passenger side, the group long-haul fleet is built around the Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 777-300ER, with widebodies operating the Shanghai and Beijing routes and holds able to take both ULDs and loose cargo. Airbus A350F freighters are on the group order book and are expected to replace the current 747 freighters progressively from 2027 and 2028.
On belly loading: passenger aircraft carry cargo either in ULDs or loose in bulk; piece weight and volume are limited by the hold door and floor load, and overweight or irregular pieces must be declared in advance. The nose-loading design of the freighter allows over-length cargo. Giving us accurate pieces, weight and dimensions at booking stage markedly improves the certainty of the loading plan and dispatch efficiency. ULD types are matched to the aircraft on the route and to the equipment at the destination terminal, and the exact loading plan is confirmed by us with the carrier against capacity on the day.
Boeing 747-400F series
The group freighter mainstay, with a nose-loading design for outsize and awkwardly shaped cargo, mature on long-haul intercontinental routes and used mainly for consolidated and heavy cargo from China to Europe via Hong Kong.
Airbus A350-900
The group's next-generation long-haul passenger aircraft, with balanced fuel efficiency and payload, being introduced progressively on Chinese trunk routes such as Shanghai and Beijing, with belly capacity for high-value and time-critical cargo.
Boeing 777-300ER
Long-haul widebody and the high-frequency type on major Chinese trunk routes, with steady hold space and ULD fit, suited to everyday movement of small and medium general cargo and express parcels.
Airbus A350F (planned)
New-generation freighters ordered by the group, expected to replace the current 747-400F series progressively, improving long-haul freighter capacity and fuel efficiency. The routes they enter service on follow carrier announcements.
Aircraft capacity figures are compiled from manufacturers' and airlines' public data. Actual payload is subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Airports served in China and schedule connections
Air France operates scheduled belly service in mainland China and Hong Kong, with group freighter capacity connecting through Hong Kong. The table gives reference connections from the main Chinese gateways; times are local and actual schedules change with the season, subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
| China origin ports | Connecting hub | Capacity type | Indicative schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong PVG | Paris CDG | Passenger aircraft belly capacity | Flown daily; times are local and schedules adjust with the season, subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking |
| Beijing Capital PEK | Paris CDG | Passenger aircraft belly capacity | Served daily; actual schedule subject to carrier confirmation |
| Hong Kong HKG | Amsterdam AMS, via Dubai DWC | Group freighter | Martinair 747 freighter four times a week, resumed in September 2024; actual schedule subject to carrier confirmation |
| Guangzhou CAN / Shenzhen SZX | Connection via PVG, HKG or CDG | Belly hold / transit connections | No schedule for its own freighters is publicly available; shipping via a hub gateway is recommended |
Cargo sales for this carrier in China are handled by the group's China network and local freight forwarders, with specific capacity and connections confirmed by us on the day of booking.
Cargo booking and connection path in China
Submit shipping instructions
The shipper gives us the gateway, the European destination city, the commodity, the pieces, weight and dimensions and the transit time required, and we use that to judge the best combination of direct service to Paris or connection via Hong Kong.
Confirm space and rate
We book belly or freighter space with the Air France-KLM Cargo China sales network or its local freight forwarders and confirm the rate, the ULD type and the loading conditions.
Departure and transit connections
After handover at the Chinese gateway the cargo transits CDG or AMS and is distributed to the European destination cities under the connection plan, with transit dwell time depending on the day's flight schedule.
Backhaul booking
Return cargo of European pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and premium consumer goods can be booked in the reverse direction through the same twin-hub channel to Chinese gateways, with temperature-controlled and high-value goods handled under the relevant procedures.
Overweight pieces, outsize pieces, temperature-controlled goods and sensitive cargo must be declared at the booking stage so that we can confirm loading conditions and the ULD type required. Flight times are local and actual schedules change with the season, subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking. Before booking we give the shipper a list of rates, capacity and loading conditions, and once confirmed we complete the booking and dispatch arrangements; urgent cargo can be put forward for priority capacity, subject to carrier approval.
Specialist freight services from China
Pharmaceutical cold chain and temperature-controlled transport.The CDG cargo terminal has pharmaceutical cold chain capability, and the Pharma product line provides temperature-controlled containers, temperature loggers and monitoring throughout, which suits Chinese biopharmaceutical companies moving vaccines, reagents and active ingredients, with the cold chain run to set temperature bands.
Perishables and time-critical cargo.The Fresh product line serves live and fresh food trade between Europe and China: European dairy, fruit and seafood imported into China can return in temperature-controlled capacity, and exports of fresh produce are declared to the destination country's inspection and quarantine requirements.
High-value and sensitive cargo.The Paris cargo terminal has dedicated security processes for high-value goods such as jewellery, watches and electronics, and Chinese shippers of high-value export pieces can request priority capacity and insured value as needed, with sensitive cargo declared to the carrier's rules.
Alliance network coordination.Within the SkyTeam Cargo framework, China-origin cargo can be combined with alliance carriers to cover the connection needs of second-tier Chinese cities shipping through a hub gateway, cutting out duplicate handovers.
Return consolidation and lot management.European cosmetics, wine and premium consumer goods suit small-lot, multi-batch consolidation on the return leg, so we can consolidate at the European gateway and book return capacity by batch to match Chinese importers' replenishment cycles.
Dangerous goods and lithium battery declarations.Exports containing dangerous goods, lithium batteries or magnetic cargo must be declared in advance against belly and freighter limits, with loadability and packing requirements confirmed by us together with the carrier.
E-commerce parcels and fast-fashion replenishment.The daily belly schedules from Shanghai and Beijing give cross-border e-commerce sellers and fast-fashion brands a steady weekly rhythm, and twin-hub European distribution covers multiple country markets, which suits small-lot, high-frequency replenishment.
Consolidation from China and multi-point delivery.Cargo from the Yangtze delta, the Pearl River delta and the Chengdu-Chongqing area can be consolidated by domestic leg to a direct gateway, shipped on one waybill to Frankfurt or Amsterdam and distributed to several European countries, which lowers the handling cost of delivery to multiple points.
China contact
Air France has group offices in China, with a China website at airfrance.com.cn and representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Cargo capacity sales and bookings run through the Air France-KLM Cargo China sales network and local freight forwarders, and office addresses follow the latest publication on the official website. The carrier's cargo site is afklcargo.com, where shipment status and flight information can be checked.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, at https://goodhope86.com, accepts air cargo bookings from major Chinese gateways to France and other European countries. We handle booking at the Chinese gateway, connections at Paris or Amsterdam, European distribution and backhaul consolidation as one operation, and can introduce shippers to the Air France-KLM Cargo China sales channel for current capacity and schedule information.