A global air cargo operator, one of the largest US airlines and a founding member of SkyTeam. Its large passenger belly capacity and worldwide network move Chinese cargo to the United States and beyond, a dependable choice for air freight from China to the US.
Chinese-language service provider: Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, handling booking, customs declaration and end-to-end logistics for air cargo from China to the United States.
Delta Air Lines (IATA two-letter codeDL, ICAO three-letter code:DAL) is one of the world's largest and oldest airlines, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It began in 1924 as Huff Daland Dusters, a crop-dusting company founded in Macon, Georgia, was renamed Delta Air Service in 1928 and took the name Delta Air Lines in 1945, giving it more than 100 years of aviation history.
Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam and one of the three major US airline groups. Its largest hub is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), with further hubs at Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis (MSP), Salt Lake City (SLC), New York JFK, Los Angeles (LAX), Seattle (SEA) and Honolulu (HNL), and a network reaching more than 300 destinations on six continents. Delta's own site puts the mainline fleet at close to 1,000 aircraft with an average age of about 15 years, among the largest fleets in the world.
Delta Cargo is the air cargo division of Delta Air Lines. Delta began carrying airmail in 1934 and started scheduled cargo service in 1945, its first consignment a batch of freshly picked mushrooms. Delta Cargo now moves more than 11 million shipments a year and, through passenger belly capacity and partner networks, serves over 400 destinations in more than 100 countries, with particular strength in temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals, perishable cold chain, high-value electronics and time-critical freight.
| Airline | Delta Air Lines |
| Cargo department | Delta Cargo |
| Country | United States |
| Global headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Founded | 1924 (centenary in 2024) |
| Cargo operations | Airmail from 1934, scheduled cargo from 1945 |
| IATA two-letter code | DL |
| ICAO three-letter code | DAL |
| Air waybill prefix | 006(AWB 006-XXXXXXXX) |
| Airline alliance | SkyTeam (founding member) |
| Cargo alliance | SkyTeam Cargo |
| Official cargo website | www.deltacargo.com |
| Cargo tracking | Enter the waybill number under TRACK on www.deltacargo.com |
| Main hubs | Atlanta ATL, Detroit DTW, Los Angeles LAX, Seattle SEA, Honolulu HNL and others |
China-US routes are flown entirely with widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A350-900, each flight offering tens of tonnes of belly cargo space for electronics, e-commerce goods, perishables and machinery.
Passenger aircraft depart several times a day, far more often than pure freighter services, with flexible space and short waiting times, which suits cross-border e-commerce and urgent replenishment.
Through Delta's network of close to 1,000 aircraft and SkyTeam Cargo, one waybill can transit hubs to more than 400 destinations in over 100 countries.
Cargo terminals in Atlanta, New York and Shanghai Pudong have cold chain, high-value storage and dangerous goods areas, so cargo stays controlled and traceable throughout.
Delta carries belly cargo on widebody aircraft that depart on schedule every day, giving stable capacity, a large network and professional handling. The shipper does not need a freighter; with space booked through a freight forwarder, cargo moves on Delta flights.
| Aircraft type | Fleet count | Main role / cargo characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A350-900 | 28 | The flagship type on China-US routes, long-range widebody with large belly capacity, suited to e-commerce, electronics and perishables |
| Airbus A330-900neo | 27 | New-generation widebody and the mainstay of medium and long haul, fuel efficient with ample belly space |
| Airbus A330-300 | 31 | Widebody used mainly on transatlantic and Asia-Pacific routes |
| Airbus A330-200 | 11 | Widebody for medium long-haul routes |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 44 aircraft | Widebody on transatlantic and some domestic trunk routes, well established for belly cargo |
| Boeing 767-400ER | 21 | Widebody on US domestic trunk routes, feeding the domestic transfer network |
The cargo holds sit below the passenger cabin and take standard unit load devices (ULDs): pallets and containers. On a Shanghai Pudong to US flight an Airbus A350-900 carries tens of tonnes in the belly, more than enough for the great majority of general, e-commerce, perishable and electronic cargo.
Delta retired its last McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighters in the early 2020s and now runs cargo purely through passenger belly capacity. That lets it put capacity on routes with strong traffic and stable schedules, and cargo customers get frequent flights, steady space and a large network.
Note: aircraft counts are Delta's published mainline fleet figures as of 2026. The type on a given flight can be substituted and the aircraft of the day governs.
Source: Delta Air Lines corporate information page (mainline fleet, excluding regional partners). A further 20 Airbus A350-1000s are on order, with deliveries expected from early 2027.
| Flagship type | Airbus A350-900 (mainstay of China-US routes) |
| New-generation widebody | Airbus A330-900neo |
| Classic widebody | Airbus A330-200/300, Boeing 767-300ER/400ER |
| Main narrowbody | Airbus A220/A320 family, Boeing 737-800/900, 757, 717 |
| Freighter | None (all retired; cargo moves in passenger belly holds) |
| On order | Airbus A350-1000 (20 aircraft, deliveries from 2027) |
Flight numberDL38Operated with the A350-900
Increases from 7 October 2026 tofive flights a week(Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday), departing 18:25; three a week before that (Monday, Thursday, Saturday).
Arrival: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the US West Coast gateway
Flight numberDL280Operated with the A350-900
Daily service, departing 17:30, operating year round.
Arrival: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), a center for US West Coast technology and cross-border e-commerce
Flight numberDL388Operated with the A350-900
Daily service, departing 09:55, with the revised A350-900 introduced from late October 2026.
Arrival: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Delta's core hub covering the US Midwest and East
| Route (departing China) | Flight number | Schedule | Departure time | Aircraft operated | Arrival airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong PVG to Seattle SEA | DL280 | Daily service | 17:30 | A350-900 | Seattle-Tacoma International Airport |
| Shanghai Pudong PVG to Detroit DTW | DL388 | Daily service | 09:55 | A350-900 | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport |
| Shanghai Pudong PVG to Los Angeles LAX | DL38 | Three a week (Mon/Thu/Sat) Five a week from 7 October 2026 (Mon/Wed/Thu/Sat/Sun)to increase | 18:25 | A350-900 | Los Angeles International Airport |
With the additional flights Delta operates 19 nonstop China-US services a week, all leaving Shanghai Pudong for three US gateways.
Delta's own flights currently serve Shanghai Pudong only. Delta flight numbers at Beijing Capital and Daxing are codeshares operated by China Eastern (Delta flight number, China Eastern aircraft) and form a domestic connection that Delta's own international cargo capacity does not cover. Delta suspended its own nonstop Beijing to US service after 2020 and hasnot restored nonstop flights. Where cargo originates in Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou or Xiamen, we can move it on a domestic leg to Shanghai Pudong for the Delta flight, so goods are collected locally and shipped from Shanghai under one arrangement.
Air cargo from China clears quickly at these airports or connects same day or next day on Delta domestic flights to major US cities.
On arrival in the United States, cargo can extend through Delta's own network or SkyTeam partners (Air France-KLM, Korean Air, Aeromexico, Air Canada and others) to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and other American markets, or connect via Korean Air at Seoul to more of Asia-Pacific. For shippers who want a nonstop from China to the US and onward distribution across North America, the network works well.
Note: we can arrange delivery anywhere in the United States, including airport-to-door, customs clearance and truck transfer.
Up to 19 nonstop flights a week on China-US routes, with Seattle and Detroit daily. Passenger schedules are stable and rarely cancelled, so cargo can move when needed, which helps e-commerce replenishment and urgent orders.
Delta has ranked at the top of North American major airline punctuality for several years. On-time flights mean cargo is loaded and arrives as planned, keeping supply chain milestones predictable.
China-US routes are flown entirely with the Airbus A350-900, a flagship widebody with ample belly space and tens of tonnes per flight, taking general cargo, e-commerce goods, perishables and electronics.
Together with SkyTeam partners it serves more than 400 destinations in over 100 countries. One waybill covers Shanghai to the US and onward distribution across North America and beyond.
Temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals (CEIV certified), perishable cold chain, live animals, dangerous goods, high-value cargo and top-priority express all have established procedures and dedicated facilities, matched at the Shanghai Pudong terminal.
With the waybill number (prefix 006) cargo status can be tracked live on Delta's website, and our team follows flights, clearance and delivery for the customer, flagging exceptions early.
For a US importer buying from China, a stable, well-connected airline means shorter transit, lower stock-out risk and more controllable logistics cost, which is what Delta Cargo offers the US importer.
| Cargo details | Commodity, piece count, weight per piece and total, dimensions, and whether the goods contain batteries, liquids or dangerous goods |
| Origin | Domestic collection to Shanghai Pudong can be arranged from cities nationwide |
| Destination | US city and ZIP code, consignee details for clearance |
| Declared value | Used for customs and insurance |
| Transit requirement | General cargo / urgent / specific flight |
Delta accepts online booking at www.deltacargo.com and space reservations up to 14 days ahead, and electronic air waybills (eAWB) speed up handling. Delta publishes no cargo sales hotline for China, so corporate shippers are advised to book through a local freight forwarder.
Los Angeles (LAX) is one of Delta's key trans-Pacific cargo gateways. In 2025 Delta also opened a Los Angeles to Hong Kong cargo corridor flown with the Airbus A350, carrying more than 20 tonnes per flight and creating a new Pacific channel for high-value electronics, e-commerce and perishables. Honolulu (HNL) is Delta's Hawaii hub, with its own cargo warehouse handling freight between the islands and the North American mainland. Together with the Atlanta global headquarters hub and terminals in New York and Detroit, Delta has a complete US cargo hub network that tranships and distributes cargo quickly after arrival.
Delta Cargo was the first US global passenger carrier to earn IATA CEIV Pharma certification. Pharmaceutical cargo moves at a constant +15°C to +25°C, with cold rooms on the ground. Perishables (Specialized Fresh) can use active temperature-controlled containers from Envirotainer, CSafe and DoKaSch, with large cold rooms at hubs such as Atlanta and New York. The Shanghai Pudong terminal also offers cold rooms and cold chain pre-declaration (live and perishable cargo above 10 cubic meters must be notified to the terminal by email in advance). Vaccines, biological reagents, cut flowers, fruit and seafood all arrive with the cold chain intact.
Delta accepts properly declared dangerous goods (the Shanghai Pudong terminal requires a shipper's declaration and a dangerous goods checklist). Live animals must be pre-declared to the terminal by email, and Pudong strictly limits live animal acceptance because of airport security screening. High-value cargo can be held in a dedicated high-value store (about CNY 5 per kg at Pudong, subject to consignee confirmation) and is loaded first. Our team can handle booking and documentation for these categories.
On time-definite products, Delta offers US domestic DASH same day and next day express and international Critical (including Critical Heavy for oversize urgent freight), loaded at top priority for medical equipment, legal documents and machinery spares. On charters, Delta can operate full aircraft or full cabin charters, and ran a Shanghai to Las Vegas service during the 2026 CES. For large equipment, exhibition materials and seasonal launches, a charter is a dependable alternative. All cargo can be tracked live on Delta's website with the 006 waybill number.
Delta has retired all dedicated freighters and now carries cargo mainly in passenger bellies. Freight is loaded in the holds of widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A350-900, using standard ULDs, which is safe, efficient and offers ample space. It also lets Delta put more flights on busy routes such as China-US, with more departures and steadier capacity.
Delta's own flights currently leave only from Shanghai Pudong. Cargo from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Xiamen and Hangzhou can be collected by us on a domestic truck or domestic air leg to Shanghai Pudong for the Delta flight. Every city gets local delivery and Shanghai uplift.
Yes, with compliant declarations. Electronics containing lithium batteries and dangerous goods must be declared truthfully under the IATA dangerous goods rules, with the relevant test reports and transport declarations; the Shanghai Pudong terminal requires a shipper's declaration and a dangerous goods checklist. We can prepare the documents so the shipment moves compliantly.
After arrival at Seattle, Detroit or Los Angeles, clearance usually completes within 1 to 3 days. We can then arrange US truck or parcel delivery anywhere in the country, including warehouse delivery. For importers needing US clearance on DDP or DDU terms, we provide the full service.
Every shipment has an air waybill number starting 006 (for example 006-XXXXXXXX). Customers can enter it under TRACK at www.deltacargo.com for live status, and our customer service also reports the key milestones: booking, departure, arrival, clearance and delivery.
A US buyer only needs to provide the consignee details (company name, address, postal code, contact and tax number) and the cargo details. We handle pickup at the Chinese seller or factory, booking, declaration and air freight, then complete clearance and delivery in the US under the agreed terms. Buyer and seller stay out of the operational steps; a specialist team runs the whole movement.
Beyond Shanghai itself, cargo from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Xiamen and Hangzhou can be collected by us by domestic truck or domestic air to Shanghai Pudong and flown to the United States on Delta widebodies. Collection and export clearance are handled in one place, so the customer simply delivers locally. Collection routes and transit times depend on the origin city, and space is confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited is based in Shenzhen and specializes in air freight from China to the United States. We work closely with Delta Air Lines and other airlines to provide booking, customs clearance, air freight, destination clearance and delivery as one service. US importers buying from China can contact us for rates and routing.
Disclaimer:Prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Airline names, codes and brand marks mentioned here belong to their respective owners, and our company has no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with the airlines described. The information is compiled from public sources for reference only and does not form a contract of carriage or a commitment. Space, rates and schedules are subject to actual confirmation by the carrier or its authorized agent at the time of booking.