Asiana Airlines was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Seoul, with Incheon International Airport as its core hub. One of Korea's main carriers, it carries international freight in passenger belly holds on a network covering Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and gives Chinese shippers a route to the world through Incheon. In December 2024 the airline became part of the Korean Air group and its cargo organization was adjusted accordingly; bookings and handling in the Chinese market run through specialist freight forwarders.
China points: Beijing (PEK), Tianjin (TSN), Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Guangzhou (CAN), served nonstop from Incheon.
Asiana Airlines was founded in Korea in 1988 and has long operated passenger and cargo routes between Korea and China. On the cargo side Asiana Cargo historically flew Boeing 747-400F, 747-400BDSF and 767-300F freighters on trans-Pacific and Korea-China routes and built a Northeast Asian cargo network around Incheon. In February 2024, when the European Commission conditionally approved Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana, it required the divestment of Asiana's freighter business to preserve competition in the Europe-Korea cargo market; on 1 August 2025 Asiana completed that sale, transferring the freighter fleet, slots and customer cargo contracts to Air Incheon. Asiana's own cargo capacity is now mainly passenger belly hold, and the link to the Chinese market is carried by belly capacity on passenger routes out of Incheon.
For Chinese shippers the carrier matters for three reasons. First, belly capacity on Korea-China routes runs on a steady passenger schedule, which suits cargo with frequency and deadline requirements. Second, Incheon is a major Northeast Asian transfer gateway, so cargo from Chinese airports can connect the same day to Asiana's Northeast Asian, Southeast Asian and trans-Pacific routes. Third, with Asiana inside the Korean Air group, cargo sales and network resources are being integrated, so future bookings can be compared within a fuller Northeast Asian cargo system.
The Korea-China corridor is one of Northeast Asia's busiest air cargo lanes, carrying electronics, semiconductors, auto parts, batteries and cross-border e-commerce goods. Incheon consistently ranks among the world's largest cargo airports, with mature express handling and intermodal systems, so Chinese cargo can transfer quickly to Asiana's next international flight or move into the domestic Korean distribution network. For exports from South, East and North China, Incheon combines frequency with speed, which is why Chinese shippers include Asiana belly capacity in their booking comparisons.
Public figures put Asiana's 2024 cargo revenue at KRW 1.72 trillion on about 831,300 tonnes for the year, a figure that includes results before the freighter divestment. The data is drawn from public reports and is given for booking reference.
Incheon International Airport (ICN) lies west of Seoul and is Asiana's core hub and a major international air cargo gateway in Northeast Asia. All four nonstop China routes, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou, connect at Incheon, where cargo can move onto the next international flight or into the domestic Korean road network. The hub offers three practical advantages for cargo from China: short connection windows, since Korea-China flights are frequent and cargo arriving during the day can connect to evening and next-day international departures; mature transfer processes, with interline cargo moving under a single air waybill and document re-issue and customs transit handled by the forwarder; and in-hub facilities for temperature control, express and special cargo.
In booking terms, cargo routed through Incheon needs the space connection and documentation cut-off for both legs confirmed at the booking stage. The forwarder locks through space in the carrier's system in one step for the destination direction, avoiding the transit-time loss of confirming each leg separately. For Europe, North America and Oceania the Incheon hub also allows combinations with the group's cargo network, so shippers can compare a single-carrier nonstop against a routing through Incheon.
Asiana's city sales and ground handling offices at Chinese airports change with route operations, and no complete public list of its own offices in China is available. To confirm belly space, rates and handling details, contact its local agent in China or ask Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited to make the connection. As an international freight forwarder Goodhope can obtain rates, book space and handle arrival and departure operations at Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou.
Shippers who want to check Asiana's routes, aircraft and flights themselves can use the airline's website at us.flyasiana.com and its China site, which publish route and fleet information; cargo booking still runs mainly through forwarders. Goodhope handles the whole sequence from quotation and booking to air waybill issue, and after departure provides in-transit tracking, exception notices and clearance support at destination.
The current passenger fleet is made up of Airbus and Boeing widebody and narrowbody aircraft. On the cargo side, widebody lower-deck holds take standard ULDs and loose cargo and carry e-commerce express, precision electronics, perishables and general trade freight; narrowbody belly capacity serves smaller shipments on Korea-China and regional routes.
| Aircraft type | Number (published sources) | Cargo notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A350-900 | 15 aircraft | Widebody long-haul passenger aircraft; the belly hold takes ULD cargo and the type flies trans-Pacific and European long-haul routes |
| Airbus A330-300 | 14 aircraft | Widebody passenger aircraft; belly capacity covers Korea-China, Southeast Asian and long-haul regional routes |
| Boeing B777-200ER | 8 aircraft | Widebody long-haul passenger aircraft with large belly volume, suited to larger general trade consignments |
| Airbus A321neo | 13 aircraft | Narrowbody passenger aircraft; the belly hold carries smaller shipments on Korea-China and regional routes |
| Airbus A321-200 | 11 aircraft | Narrowbody passenger aircraft; belly capacity serves the Korea-China shuttle |
| Airbus A380-800 | 6 aircraft | Very large widebody; planned for retirement during 2026 and still offering belly capacity until then |
Freighter note: the historic Asiana Cargo freighter fleet comprised Boeing 747-400F, 747-400BDSF and 767-300F aircraft and passed to Air Incheon with the August 2025 sale. Cargo space sold under the Asiana name is now mainly passenger belly hold; freighter space can be compared separately through the Korean Air group cargo network or Air Incheon. Fleet numbers come from Asiana's published information and follow the carrier's active fleet.
In handling terms, widebody belly cargo is built up in standard ULDs and pallets and each consignment needs a loading sequence that fits the hold layout; narrowbody bellies take mainly loose cargo and suit small shipments. Accurate dimensions and weights at booking let the forwarder and carrier settle the loading plan and avoid delays caused by cargo that does not fit the hold; where a flight carries several consignments, a sensible loading sequence also shortens ground handling.
Asiana's published route information shows four nonstop destinations in mainland China from Seoul Incheon: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN). These four airports are both the Chinese cities Asiana serves directly and the consolidation gateways for Chinese cargo connecting to Incheon.
| China destinations | Airport code | Service notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing Capital | PEK | North China gateway with a nonstop Incheon service; belly capacity connects cargo from the North China industrial belt |
| Tianjin Binhai | TSN | North China airport with a nonstop Incheon service, suited to consolidation from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Bohai Rim area |
| Shanghai Pudong | PVG | East China gateway with a nonstop Incheon service, carrying electronics, auto parts and general trade freight |
| Guangzhou Baiyun | CAN | South China gateway with a nonstop Incheon service, linking Pearl River Delta manufacturing and cross-border e-commerce |
No published detail is available on the schedule and aircraft for each route. Schedules change with the season and are confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking; all times are local unless stated otherwise. Cargo from other Chinese airports can be consolidated at these four gateways and connected through Incheon to Asiana's global network.
Cargo profiles differ by gateway: South China ships mainly electronics and cross-border e-commerce goods, East China mainly semiconductors, auto parts and machinery, and North China general trade and industrial products. Asiana places belly capacity at these four airports on its passenger schedule, so shippers can choose weekly or daily connections according to shipping frequency, and the forwarder sets the delivery rhythm around each airport's documentation cut-off.
Exports from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou transfer at Incheon to Asiana's network across Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America and Oceania, concentrated in the following regions:
Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Manila, served by high-frequency Korea-China belly connections that suit electronics, machinery parts and perishables with short transit times.
London, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Zurich, Vienna, Istanbul and Dubai, connected across continents through Incheon and suited to China-Europe and China-West Asia trade and higher-value goods.
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Chicago, Sydney and Auckland, connected by belly capacity across the Pacific and to Oceania and suited to steady cross-border trade, e-commerce and perishables.
These points are the published extent of Asiana's network. Through space and connection times are confirmed in the carrier's system on the day of booking. Cargo originating in China and transferring at Incheon needs the connection time, destination space allocation and import document requirements of the destination country confirmed at the booking stage.
By commodity, Chinese cargo moving through Incheon is dominated by electronic components and consumer electronics, auto parts, precision machinery, textiles and apparel, and cross-border e-commerce parcels, with strong concentration at South and East China airports. Shippers can depart from the nearest nonstop gateway or consolidate into one of the four and connect at Incheon; the forwarder prices both routings on transit time and cost for comparison.
Schematic route map, centred on Incheon, with gold arcs showing great-circle routes to the Pacific and Europe
Korea-China sectors are short and frequent, so cargo arriving at Incheon during the day can connect to evening and next-day flights to Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. Short connection windows suit time-sensitive freight.
Asiana now carries freight in passenger belly holds, and capacity goes out with the passenger schedule, so space is predictable and suits steady shipping plans for e-commerce express, precision electronics and perishables.
Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangzhou cover the North, East and South China industrial belts, so electronics, semiconductors, auto parts and cross-border e-commerce cargo can be consolidated at the nearest airport and shipped through Incheon.
With Asiana inside the Korean Air group, cargo sales, transfer handling and space resources are being integrated, giving Chinese shippers a wider Northeast Asian cargo network to compare.
Overall, Asiana belly capacity suits consignments of moderate weight with tight deadlines and a steady shipping frequency; larger volumes are better decided after comparing the group cargo network and freighter options. Shippers can match these points against their own commodity and let the forwarder propose a concrete plan.
Chinese shippers moving cargo in Asiana belly holds normally book through an international freight forwarder. As an IATA agent the forwarder works directly with the carrier's sales system and handles quotation, space confirmation, booking, export clearance and air waybill issue. The sequence runs as follows:
| Step | How it works |
|---|---|
| Quotation and space confirmation | The shipper provides commodity, weight, volume, origin and destination; the forwarder confirms belly space, rate and transit time with the carrier |
| Booking and tender | Once confirmed, a booking form and shipper's letter of instruction are filed and the cargo is delivered to the airport or designated consolidation warehouse by the documentation cut-off |
| Declaration and dispatch | The forwarder handles export declaration, security screening and loading; the cargo departs on the flight and the air waybill is issued |
| Transit and arrival | Cargo transferring at Incheon has its connecting flight and destination allocation confirmed; on arrival it is released against the air waybill or cleared for import |
Documents required are the commercial invoice, packing list, export declaration authorization and shipper's letter of instruction; special cargo adds a dangerous goods declaration, live animal documentation or temperature-control instructions. Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited handles belly booking, consolidation, export clearance and transfer connections from Chinese airports through Incheon, and compares Asiana belly space against freighter options for clients.
Belly space is subject to what is left on the day's flight, and popular destinations tighten in peak season, so shippers should lock space one to two weeks ahead; cargo transferring at Incheon also needs time for ground transfer and document re-issue. The forwarder tracks confirmation status in the booking system and adjusts the connection as soon as a flight changes.
Asiana passenger belly holds carry several kinds of special cargo. Chinese shippers can declare the commodity to the carrier or forwarder in advance and arrange suitable space and packing:
Perishables, pharmaceuticals and temperature-sensitive cargo are packed to the carrier's temperature standards with the range declared at booking, and carried in widebody belly holds on a steady basis.
Live animals are declared under the IATA live animals regulations, with the flight, container and destination quarantine requirements confirmed in advance.
Electronics, jewellery and high-value goods can be booked into special space with escort arrangements, handed over throughout to the carrier's handling standards.
Cross-border e-commerce parcels and express rely on the high-frequency Korea-China belly routes, which suit platform sellers and logistics providers shipping in volume.
Asiana belly handling is shared between the ground handler and the forwarder. Shippers should confirm at booking that packing, marking and declarations are complete so the documentation cut-off and loading are not affected. Temperature-controlled and live animal cargo should be notified further ahead so the carrier can complete acceptance checks.
Acceptance scope, packing standards and surcharges for special cargo follow the carrier's rules on the day; restricted goods such as dangerous goods need declaration and approval before booking.
Yes. Asiana now carries freight in passenger belly holds, booked through IATA cargo agents; the former freighter operation is run by Air Incheon and freighter space can be priced separately when comparing options. Actual availability is confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking.
Asiana flies nonstop from Incheon to Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou. Cargo from other Chinese airports can be consolidated at these gateways, connected at Incheon and transferred to destinations worldwide.
Connection time depends on the destination direction and the day's flight connections. At booking the forwarder can calculate the minimum connecting time in the carrier's system and lock through space, avoiding cargo left behind by a connection that is too tight.
Standard cargo needs a commercial invoice, packing list, export declaration authorization and shipper's letter of instruction; special cargo adds a dangerous goods declaration, live animal documents or temperature-control instructions by category, as the carrier requires on the day.
During group integration, sales and handling arrangements for both airlines follow the carrier's official notices. The forwarder adjusts booking routings to the latest notices so space confirmation, air waybills and transfers continue to work.
Prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Airline names, codes and brand marks belong to their respective owners, and this company has no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with the airlines described. Information is compiled from public sources for reference only and does not constitute a transport contract or commitment; capacity, rates and schedules are subject to confirmation by the carrier or its authorized agent at the time of booking.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight)
International air freight booking and enquiries: https://goodhope86.com
The names, trademarks and codes of Goodhope, Asiana Airlines and Air Incheon referred to here belong to their respective owners and are used only to describe freight services.