Singapore Airlines Cargo
Part of the Singapore Airlines group and centred on Changi International Airport, it runs an air freight network covering 137 destinations in 72 countries. CEIV Pharma certified temperature-controlled transport, live animal handling approval and a secure system for high-value cargo give Chinese shippers reliable capacity and specialist logistics to South-East Asia, South Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Company Profile
Singapore Airlines Cargo is the dedicated freight division of the Singapore Airlines group, with IATA code SQ, ICAO code SQC and radio callsign SINGCARGO. The division dates from 1988, became a wholly owned subsidiary, Singapore Airlines Cargo Pte Ltd, in 2001, and was folded back into the group in 2018, operating as a cargo division since then.
As one of the world's leading air cargo carriers, SIA Cargo centres on Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN) and draws on a mixed capacity base of the group's 148 widebody passenger aircraft plus 7 Boeing 747-400F and 5 Boeing 777F freighters, with a network of 137 destinations in 36 countries. In FY2025/26 SIA Cargo earned SGD 2.167 billion in freight revenue, carried 1.1603 million tonnes and recorded a cargo load factor of 56.3 percent.
SIA Cargo has a long history in the Chinese market. On 22 May 2003 it was among the first foreign airlines permitted to operate direct cargo flights between China and the United States, the first time a foreign carrier ran a freighter route between the two countries. At the time SIA Cargo operated a round-the-world cargo service Singapore–Xiamen–Nanjing–Chicago, carrying manufactured goods from the Yangtze River Delta direct to the Midwest of the United States.
SIA Cargo now departs from Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Beijing Capital (PEK), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX), Chengdu (CTU), Xiamen (XMN), Nanjing (NKG) and Hangzhou (HGH) among other Chinese cities, flying direct to the Singapore hub in widebody belly holds and on freighters and connecting there to the rest of the world. Singapore sits at the southern end of the Strait of Malacca, a natural centre linking East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Oceania, and flight time from Singapore to major European cities is usually under 15 hours. As the most important air cargo hub in South-East Asia, Singapore gives Chinese exporters an efficient channel to Asia-Pacific, European, North American and African markets, particularly for distribution needs spanning several destinations.
Key Metrics — FY2025/26
China Operations
Singapore Airlines has operating offices in major Chinese cities coordinating passenger and cargo business. Cargo enquiries can be directed to the SIA Cargo head office in Singapore:
| Enquiry | Contact details |
|---|---|
| General cargo enquiries | siacargo_sinsales@singaporeair.com |
| Cargo phone | +65 6541 6680 |
| Cargo sales | +65 6541 6280 |
| Website | siacargo.com, plain text |
| Cargo contact in China | Goodhope Freight is recommended for local cargo support in China |
SIA Cargo has ground agents and cargo terminal staff at each Chinese origin station, and details of the individual station cargo offices can be obtained through the email or telephone above, or through Goodhope Freight for a local contact. For large-volume or long-term customers it is worth contacting the SIA Cargo sales department directly to sign a long-term carriage agreement, which gives firmer capacity and better rates.
Fleet Overview
Freighter, 7 in service. Main-deck payload about 120 tonnes with 30 pallet positions, and a nose door that allows long and oversize loads. Suited to heavy equipment, large industrial goods and bulk standard cargo on long sectors. Routes cover Singapore to the main cargo hubs of Europe, the Middle East and South Asia.
Freighter, 5 in service, currently operated by DHL Aviation. Payload about 100 tonnes with intercontinental range. With its fuel efficiency and payload, the 777F carries the high-density traffic in the SIA Cargo network and is deployed mainly on Singapore to Europe and trans-Pacific routes.
SIA Cargo has ordered 7 Airbus A350F freighters, with deliveries expected from 2026. The A350F is a new-generation long-haul widebody freighter with advanced composites and efficient engines, materially better in fuel burn than the previous generation. On delivery it will progressively replace the 747-400F fleet and become the main type on SIA Cargo long-haul routes.
The group's 148 passenger aircraft, including A350, B777 and B787 widebodies, and Scoot's 63 aircraft all offer belly cargo space. Belly capacity covers all 137 destinations and suits time-critical standard cargo, e-commerce parcels and temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals. The group fleet totals 218 passenger and freighter aircraft, and belly capacity accounts for a significant share of total cargo volume.
China Stations
SIA Cargo operates cargo flights from several major Chinese international airports, providing Chinese exporters with steady daily capacity in the belly holds of widebody aircraft flying direct to the Singapore Changi hub. Basic information on each origin station follows.
| City | Airport | IATA | Frequency | Aircraft type | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Pudong International Airport | PVG | Daily | A350 / B777 | The largest Chinese origin station, nonstop to SIN |
| Beijing | Capital International Airport | PEK | Daily | B777 / A350 | Core origin station for North China |
| Guangzhou | Baiyun International Airport | CAN | Daily | B777 / A350 | Main origin station for South China |
| Shenzhen | Bao'an International Airport | SZX | Daily | A350 / B787 | Electronics consolidation centre for the Pearl River Delta |
| Chengdu | Tianfu and Shuangliu | CTU | Scheduled | A350 / B777 | Cargo service for South-West China |
| Xiamen | Gaoqi International Airport | XMN | Scheduled | A350 / B787 | Former freighter stop |
| Nanjing | Lukou International Airport | NKG | Scheduled | A350 / B787 | Supplementary origin station for East China |
| Hangzhou | Xiaoshan International Airport | HGH | Scheduled | A350 / B787 | Origin for Yangtze River Delta e-commerce cargo |
Note: the freighter route once operated as a round-the-world service Singapore–Xiamen–Nanjing–Chicago. Scoot (TR) also operates separate cargo flights from Chinese cities including Qingdao and Nanjing. Flight times and capacity are subject to actual enquiry.
By cargo type, shipments from Shanghai Pudong are mainly electronics, precision instruments and cross-border e-commerce goods; Guangzhou and Shenzhen focus on consumer electronics, communications equipment and manufactured goods from the Pearl River Delta; Beijing covers biopharmaceuticals, high-tech components and high-value industrial goods from North China; Hangzhou benefits from the Yangtze River Delta e-commerce sector, with a high share of cross-border parcels; Chengdu, as the logistics hub of South-West China, ships components for the laptop supply chain and speciality agricultural products of the region; and Xiamen and Nanjing handle light industrial goods, textiles and regional manufactured products. SIA Cargo applies handling plans and capacity allocation suited to the cargo profile of each origin station.
Global Network
SIA Cargo uses Singapore Changi as a superhub to maximise the connecting efficiency of cargo originating in China. The diagram below shows the air freight paths from Chinese origin stations through Singapore to the main world regions.
Global Coverage
The SIA Cargo network covers 137 destination cities in 36 countries. Cargo originating in China, connecting at the Singapore hub, can reach the following main regional markets:
London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Zurich, Milan, Madrid, Brussels, Manchester and others
Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Atlanta and others
Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah and others
Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, Phnom Penh and others
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland and others
Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Lagos and others
Singapore ranks among the world's leading air cargo hubs. For cargo originating in China bound for Europe, South Asia and the Middle East, its location adds only marginally to transit time compared with a nonstop flight, while capacity supply is far more stable and flexible than on a single-route operation. For Chinese exports that need multi-leg routing, the Singapore Airlines Cargo transit network offers a clear advantage in routing options.
By industry, China-origin cargo transiting Singapore covers consumer electronics and semiconductors, biopharma and medical devices, cross-border e-commerce parcels, auto parts, precision machinery and industrial equipment, apparel and textiles, and luxury goods. Singapore Airlines Cargo holds handling procedures and ground facilities for each commodity group, so different cargo types get specialized transfer handling at the Singapore hub. For cargo that needs sorting, labeling or repacking in Singapore, Superhub also provides value-added support.
Competitive Edge
Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen all have daily nonstop flights to Singapore, with strong capacity guarantees in peak season.
Changi Superhub handles more than 1.65 million tonnes a year, the highest transfer efficiency in Asia-Pacific, with short cargo connection times.
CEIV Pharma and IATA LAR certification supports pharmaceutical cold chain, live animals and high-value cargo.
137 destinations across six continents; a single transfer in Singapore reaches major cities in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania.
As a Star Alliance member, Singapore Airlines Cargo can code-share and interchange capacity with alliance carriers, extending cargo reach.
A mix of A350, B777 and B787 widebody belly capacity plus freighters; one flight can carry tens of tonnes, covering large shipments.
Specialised Products
CEIV Pharma certified temperature-controlled transport. The temperature range is -20°C to +25°C, with active containers and active temperature-control equipment, for constant-temperature carriage of biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, clinical drugs and precision electronic components. Singapore Airlines Cargo was the first carrier in Asia-Pacific to obtain IATA CEIV Pharma certification, in January 2017, setting the regional standard for pharmaceutical cold chain. THRUCOOL shipments carry temperature loggers throughout, so shipper and consignee can monitor temperature data in real time.
IATA LAR (Live Animals Regulations) certified live animal transport. Meets all IATA Live Animals Regulations requirements and covers ornamental fish, breeding stock, racehorses, zoo animals and laboratory animals. Changi Superhub has dedicated live animal transfer facilities.
An express priority product giving guaranteed capacity for time-critical cargo. Suited to document courier, urgent spare parts, exhibition materials, emergency medicines and other freight that must arrive within a set time. Priority loading, priority transfer and priority recovery, with the highest handling priority throughout. On transfer at the Singapore hub, Priority cargo uses a dedicated transfer channel, so connections complete in the shortest time and delay risk is kept to a minimum.
Enhanced security handling for high-value cargo. Suited to electronics, precious metals, jewelry, luxury goods, fine art and confidential documents. Enhanced security runs end to end, including dedicated storage, armed escort, GPS tracking and named supervision, and Changi has a dedicated high-value cargo warehouse area meeting international security standards. The product suits chips, wafers, high-end electronic components and precious metal products originating in China that need a higher security level.
Hub Infrastructure
Singapore Airlines Cargo operates two dedicated cargo handling centers at SATS Airfreight Terminal 5 at Changi Airport, together known as SIA Superhub, with combined annual capacity of more than 1.65 million tonnes, among the largest single air cargo handling facilities in the world.
Commissioned in 1995 with annual capacity of 450,000 tonnes. Equipped with automated cargo sorting, temperature-controlled storage areas and an isolated dangerous goods area; mainly handles standard cargo pallets and mail parcels.
Commissioned: 1995 · Annual capacity: 450,000 tonnes
Commissioned in 2001 with annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes. Houses a dedicated pharmaceutical cold chain area (CEIV Pharma), a live animal handling area, a high-value cargo security vault and a fully automated high-bay storage system. It is the core handling node of the Singapore Airlines Cargo network.
Commissioned: 2001 · Annual capacity: 1.2 million tonnes
Superhub connects directly to the Changi runway system, and transfer from apron to warehouse is measured in minutes. Transhipment cargo gets a priority handling channel, and cargo from China transiting Singapore to Europe or the Middle East can achieve minimum connection times of a few hours.
SATS Airfreight Terminal 5 at Changi also has fast-track customs facilities and multi-species inspection and quarantine lanes, so transit cargo clears efficiently in Singapore. For China-origin cargo that needs deconsolidation in Singapore, Superhub offers depalletizing, re-packing and labeling as value-added services, supporting the split of one consignment to several final destinations. Superhub also has a dedicated dangerous goods warehouse area and a dedicated lithium battery handling channel for compliant shipment of new energy products.
Booking Pathway
Chinese exporters arranging international air cargo with Singapore Airlines Cargo (SQ) usually follow this booking path:
Confirm commodity, weight, volume, origin airport (PVG, PEK, CAN, SZX and others) and destination country. Establish whether temperature control, dangerous goods or special handling is needed.
Get Singapore Airlines Cargo capacity quotes and flight schedules through Goodhope Freight (goodhope86.com). Goodhope Freight provides local coordination in China and simplifies the booking process.
The forwarder arranges pickup from the factory or warehouse, delivers to the origin airport cargo terminal and completes China customs export declaration. The Singapore Airlines Cargo air waybill (AWB) prefix is 618. Declaration documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, customs power of attorney and, where applicable, inspection and quarantine certificates for the commodity. Dangerous goods also need a complete dangerous goods declaration.
Cargo is loaded and flown to Singapore Changi, transferred at Superhub, then loaded onto the onward flight to the final destination. Status can be tracked by air waybill number throughout. Destination customs clearance and last-mile delivery can be arranged by the destination agent or the consignee, or extended through the Goodhope Freight global agency network.
Get Singapore Airlines Cargo capacity confirmation and rates from Goodhope Freight, covering eight origin airports in China to 137 destinations worldwide.
Contact Goodhope Freight for a quoteFAQ
The Singapore Airlines Cargo AWB prefix is 618. A full air waybill number has 11 digits in the format 618-XXXXXXXX. Shipment status is checked by entering the AWB number in the cargo tracking function at siacargo.com, or Goodhope Freight can track it on the shipper's behalf. The air waybill is the core document of the air transport contract and records shipper, consignee, origin airport, destination airport, commodity description, weight, volume and freight terms. Confirm AWB details at booking to avoid problems at destination customs clearance.
From Shanghai Pudong (PVG), the nonstop flight to Singapore takes about 5.5 hours, and Singapore to major European cities such as London and Frankfurt takes about 13 hours. Including ground handling and connections, the whole journey usually takes 2 to 4 days. Actual time depends on flight connection density and destination customs efficiency. The Priority product gets faster transfer handling.
Singapore Airlines Cargo accepts eligible dangerous goods under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), including some lithium batteries, chemicals, magnetic materials and industrial products containing flammable or corrosive components. The shipper must provide a complete Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods and an MSDS, and packaging must meet the IATA DGR packing instructions, marking and labeling requirements. Some dangerous goods are restricted to freighters and are not accepted in passenger aircraft belly holds. Confirm acceptable DG classes, UN numbers and packing requirements in advance with Goodhope Freight or Singapore Airlines Cargo sales to avoid rejection at the airport cargo terminal.
Singapore Airlines Cargo (SQ) operates freighters (B747-400F, B777F) and belly capacity on Singapore Airlines passenger aircraft, covering 137 destinations with products such as THRUCOOL. Scoot (TR) is the group low-cost carrier; its 63 passenger aircraft also offer belly capacity, mainly from secondary Chinese cities such as Qingdao and Nanjing, at more competitive rates, suited to standard cargo and shipments with looser time requirements.
Capacity originating in China is normally booked through authorized freight forwarders. Contact Goodhope Freight (goodhopefreight.com / goodhope86.com) for capacity confirmation, rate quotes and end-to-end arrangements. Large local accounts in China may also contact the Singapore Airlines Cargo China sales team (details in the China contact section above) or email siacargo_sinsales@singaporeair.com.
Disclaimer:Information here is for reference only and does not constitute an offer of carriage. Flight schedules, capacity, cargo products and service terms are subject to the latest official information from Singapore Airlines Cargo. Prepared and maintained by Goodhope Freight; not an official Singapore Airlines website.
Contact:For cargo enquiries email siacargo_sinsales@singaporeair.com or call +65 6541 6680. For local cargo support in China, contact Goodhope Freight.
Trademark statement:Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airlines Cargo, SINGCARGO, THRUCOOL, THRULIVE, PRIORITY, VALUABLES and related marks are registered trademarks of Singapore Airlines Limited. They are used here for information purposes only and do not imply any brand affiliation with or sponsorship by Singapore Airlines Limited. Star Alliance and the Star Alliance logo are registered trademarks of Star Alliance.
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