Chinese air cargo transportation to Iranian airports

Which airports in China provide international cargo air services to Iranian airports?

Major international airports in China, such as Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX), Beijing Capital (PEK), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), and Hong Kong (HKG), provide regular cargo services to Iran, covering major airports such as Tehran and Isfahan. East China is centered around Shanghai, relying on Eastern Airlines and Qatar Airlines to transport chemical and electronic equipment more than 20 times a week; Shenzhen and Guangzhou in South China transport high value-added products and home appliances through SF Express and UAE aviation intensive routes. Central and western hubs such as Zhengzhou (CGO), Urumqi (URC), and Chengdu (CTU) mainly transport automotive machinery, bulk commodities, and photovoltaic components, and connect to the Iranian market through Central Asia or Europe.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG): Located in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai, it is the third largest cargo hub in the world, with an annual cargo volume of 3.90 million tons. MU7083 (Shanghai → Tehran IKA, 5 flights per week) operated by Eastern Airlines Cargo (MU); QR8785 (Shanghai → Doha DOH → Isfahan IFN, 1 flight per day) operated by Qatar Airlines (QR), covering the transportation of chemical products and machinery equipment, and connecting the Persian Gulf ports to provide multimodal sea, land and air transportation. Iran Mahan Airlines (W5) W5076 (Shanghai → Tehran IKA, 4-5 flights per week), carrying electronic products, auto parts and fresh food; Turkey Airlines (TK) TK7351 (Shanghai → Istanbul IST → Isfahan IFN/Mashhad MHD, 6-8 flights per week), supporting chemical and cold chain transportation (-25 ℃ constant temperature cabin).

Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX): Located in Bao'an District, Shenzhen, the core cargo hub of the electronics industry in South China, with an annual cargo volume of 1.50 million tons. SF Express Airlines (O3) 's O3698 (Shenzhen → Tehran IKA, 3 flights per week) specializes in high value-added products such as drones and chips; UAE Airlines (EK) 's EK9873 (Shenzhen → Dubai DXB → Shiraz SYZ, 5 flights per week) carries cross-border e-commerce goods; Qatar Airlines (QR) (Shenzhen → Doha DOH → Tehran IKA, 3 flights per week) provides LCL and charter services; newly added Iran Air (IR) 's IR829 (Shenzhen → Tehran IKA, 2 flights per week), focusing on transporting smartphone accessories.

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG): Located on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, it is the busiest cargo airport in the world with an annual throughput of 5 million tons. Cathay Pacific Cargo (CX) CX2671 (Hong Kong → Tehran IKA, 1 flight per day) covers all categories of general cargo; Iran Air (IR) IR818 (Hong Kong → Tehran IKA, 2 flights per week) prioritizes diplomatic packages. FedEx (FX) FX5009 (Hong Kong → Paris CDG → Tehran IKA, 5 flights per week) provides 48-hour cross-border transportation between Europe and Iran.

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK): Located in Shunyi District, Beijing, one of the three major aviation hubs in China, with an annual cargo volume of over 3 million tons. China International Cargo (CA) CA1039 (Beijing → Tehran IKA, 4 flights per week) directly transports pharmaceutical products; Mahan Air (W5) W5071 (Beijing → Urumqi URC → Tehran IKA, 3 flights per week) carries precision instruments. In addition, Russia Air Bridge Cargo (RU) RU4412 (Beijing → Moscow SVO → Tabriz TBZ, 2 flights per week) provides special project transportation services for lithium batteries.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN): Located in Huadu District, Guangzhou, it is the logistics gateway of the Pearl River Delta manufacturing industry, with an annual cargo volume of over 2 million tons. China Southern Airlines (CZ) CZ8741 (Guangzhou → Tehran IKA, 4 flights per week) delivers home appliances directly; Turkey Airlines (TK) TK6497 (Guangzhou → Istanbul IST → Tabriz TBZ, 3 flights per week) transits clothing and general merchandise. Qatar Airlines (QR) QR8095 (Guangzhou → Doha DOH → Abbas BND, 4 flights per week) supports the transportation of petrochemical equipment.

Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO): Located in Xinzheng City, Zhengzhou City, the core node of the "Air Silk Road", with an annual cargo volume of 700,000 tons. Luxembourg Cargo (CV) carries CV972 (Zhengzhou → Luxembourg LUX → Tehran IKA, 2 flights per week) to transport car tires and construction machinery; Turkey Airlines (TK) carries TK4987 (Zhengzhou → Istanbul IST → Mashhad MHD, 3 flights per week) to carry solar panels and support "door-to-door" Middle East land transportation connection.

Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC): Located in the suburbs of Urumqi, it is the bridgehead of logistics in Central Asia, with an annual cargo volume of 200,000 tons. China Southern Airlines (CZ) CZ6025 (Urumqi → Tehran IKA, 3 flights per week, passenger and cargo mixed) transports daily general merchandise; Mahan Airlines (W5) W5071 (Urumqi → Tehran IKA, 2 flights per week) undertakes the transportation of cotton through Kazakhstan. Added Kyrgyzstan Airlines (QH) QH332 (Urumqi → Bishkek FRU → Isfahan IFN, 1 flight per week).

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU): Located in Shuangliu District, Chengdu City, it is the export hub of photovoltaic industry in Southwest China, with an annual cargo volume of 800,000 tons. Sichuan Airlines (3U) transports photovoltaic modules with 3U8967 (Chengdu → Urumqi URC → Tehran IKA, 2 flights per week); Kalita Airlines (K4) carries agricultural and sideline products such as tea and Sichuan peppercorns with K4932 (Chengdu → Almaty ALA → Tehran IKA, 1 flight per week). Iran Mahan Airlines (W5) focuses on emergency replenishment of electronic products with W5083 (Chengdu → Tehran IKA, 3 flights per week, seasonal increase to 5 flights).

Which airlines provide cargo services from China to Iranian airports?

Cargo services from China to Iran are jointly supported by multiple airlines, covering direct and transit routes. China International Cargo Airlines (CA) transports pharmaceutical products to Tehran four times a week with Beijing as its hub; Iran Mahan Airlines (W5) serves as the main carrier, opening 4-5 weekly routes from Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu to Tehran, covering electronic products, automotive parts, and cold chain fresh produce. Turkey Airlines (TK) connects Isfahan, Tabriz and other places through the Istanbul hub, carrying chemical products and solar panels 6-8 times a week; Qatar Airlines (QR) relies on Doha transit to transport mechanical equipment for Persian Gulf port intermodal transportation once a day. The South China region is centered around UAE Airlines (EK), with 3-5 flights per week specializing in high value-added electronic products and cross-border e-commerce goods; Cathay Pacific Cargo (CX) flies directly from Hong Kong to Tehran once a day, ensuring all categories of general cargo. The Central and Western regions provide Central Asian land-air intermodal transportation services for photovoltaic modules and agricultural and sideline products through Southern Airlines (CZ), Sichuan Airlines (3U), etc. A 12-72 hour delivery network covering medicine, electronics, and bulk commodities has been established, connecting 8 major Iranian airports such as Tehran and Isfahan.

China International Cargo Airlines (CA): Air China Cargo relies on the hub of Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and has opened a direct flight route CA1039 (Beijing → Tehran IKA, 4 flights per week), focusing on the transportation of medical products, using the B777F all-cargo aircraft to carry high value-added medical supplies. Cooperate with Iran Mahan Air (W5) to transport precision instruments through the PEK → URC → IKA transit route (3 flights per week), connecting the Central Asian land transport network.

Iran Mahan Airlines (W5): Iran Mahan Airlines is the main cargo carrier between China and Iran, operating multiple direct flights. W5076 (Shanghai PVG → Tehran IKA, 4-5 flights per week) carries electronic products, auto parts and fresh produce, providing -25 ℃ cold chain transportation services; W5071 (Beijing PEK → Urumqi URC → Tehran IKA, 3 flights per week), stops at Xinjiang hub, transports Kazakhstan transit cotton and machinery equipment; W5083 (Chengdu CTU → Tehran IKA, 3 flights per week, seasonally increased to 5 flights), focuses on the photovoltaic industry in Southwest China, transports photovoltaic modules and electronic products for emergency replenishment.

Turkey Airlines (TK): Turkey Airlines transits through Istanbul (IST) hub, covering many parts of Iran. TK7351 (Shanghai PVG → IST → Isfahan IFN/Mashhad MHD, 6-8 flights per week), using A330F all-cargo aircraft, supporting chemical and cold chain transportation (-25 ℃ constant temperature cabin), connecting to Persian Gulf ports for multimodal transportation; TK6497 (Guangzhou CAN → IST → Tabriz TBZ, 3 flights per week), carrying clothing and general merchandise, transit time is 5 days, providing "door-to-door" Middle East land transportation connection. TK4987 (Zhengzhou CGO → IST → Mashhad MHD, 3 times a week), transporting large goods such as solar panels, linking China-Europe freight train extension services.

Qatar Airlines (QR): Qatar Airlines provides multiple services with Doha (DOH) as the transit hub. QR8785 (Shanghai PVG → DOH → Isfahan IFN, 1 flight per day) covers chemical products and machinery equipment, and provides sea, land and air transportation in linkage with Persian Gulf ports; QR9873 (Shenzhen SZX → Dubai DXB → Shiraz SYZ, 5 flights per week) carries cross-border e-commerce goods, with a transit time of 48 hours, supporting the transportation of live products; QR8095 (Guangzhou CAN → DOH → Abbas BND, 4 flights per week) transports petrochemical equipment, connecting with industrial cities in southern Iran.

Iran Air (IR): IR829 (Shenzhen SZX → Tehran IKA, 2 flights per week), focusing on transporting smartphone accessories, using B747-400F full cargo aircraft, prioritizing diplomatic parcels; IR818 (Hong Kong HKG → Tehran IKA, 2 flights per week), covering all categories of general cargo, supporting the transportation of sensitive goods such as lithium batteries.

Luxembourg Freight (CV): Luxembourg Freight relies on the "Air Silk Road" and has opened CV972 (Zhengzhou CGO → Luxembourg LUX → Tehran IKA, 2 flights per week), using B747-8F all-cargo aircraft to transport car tires and construction machinery, with a transit time of 6 days.

China Southern Airlines (CZ): China Southern Airlines provides passenger and cargo mixed transportation services from Urumqi to Tehran. CZ8741 (Guangzhou CAN → Tehran IKA, 4 flights per week) directly delivers home appliances and building materials. CZ6025 (Urumqi URC → Tehran IKA, 3 flights per week, passenger and cargo mixed transportation) carries daily general merchandise and connects to the Central Asian land transportation network.

Sichuan Airlines (3U): Sichuan Airlines transits through Xinjiang, operating 3U8967 (Chengdu CTU → Urumqi URC → Tehran IKA, 2 flights per week), using the belly cabin of A330-300 aircraft to transport photovoltaic modules and agricultural and sideline products.

Kalita Airlines (K4): Kalita Airlines opened K4932 (Chengdu CTU → Almaty ALA → Tehran IKA, 1 flight per week), using B747-400F all-cargo aircraft, carrying tea, Sichuan pepper and other agricultural and sideline products, transit time 7 days.

UAE Airlines (EK): UAE Airlines operates EK9873 (Shenzhen SZX → Dubai DXB → Shiraz SYZ, 5 flights per week), using B777F all-cargo aircraft, carrying cross-border e-commerce goods, transit time is 3 days.

Kyrgyzstan Airlines (QH): Kyrgyzstan Airlines has opened QH332 (Urumqi URC → Bishkek FRU → Isfahan IFN, one flight per week), transporting textiles and light industrial products, connecting to the Central Asian land transport network.

Cathay Pacific Cargo (CX): Cathay Pacific Cargo operates CX2671 (Hong Kong HKG → Tehran IKA, 1 shift per day), covering all categories of general cargo, supporting dangerous goods transportation.

How long does it take for Chinese air cargo to arrive at MY airport?

The time difference between China's air cargo and MY airport is significant, with the fastest taking about 3 days (direct flights with buzz customs clearance, direct flights from Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur only take 5.5 hours, and general cargo customs clearance takes 2-3 days), and the slowest possibly exceeding 10 days (connecting flights plus holiday customs clearance delays, total flight time via Dubai is more than 14 hours, and customs clearance is delayed by 3-5 days during holidays such as Eid al-Fitr). The specific time limit is affected by the type of flight (direct flights usually take 3-5 days, transit takes 5-7 days), the type of cargo (general cargo clearance takes 2-3 days, dangerous goods take 5-7 days), and policy factors (such as flight delays during the monsoon season, additional approval for sensitive cargo). It is recommended to choose a direct flight route based on the urgency of the cargo, and confirm the flight dynamics and customs clearance policies with the freight forwarder in advance to optimize transportation time.

Time limit for direct flights

Direct flight time is determined by flight time, flight frequency, and distance from departure to destination. Urumqi (URC) to Tehran (IKA) only takes 5 hours and 15 minutes, which is the fastest route from western China to Iran; while Beijing (PEK) to Tehran (IKA) direct flight takes about 7 hours, affected by flight frequency (4 flights per week), and the overall time is more stable.

Time limit for connecting flights

The transit time is determined by the flight time, transit stop time, and hub connection efficiency. The total flight time from Shanghai (PVG) to Mashhad (MHD) via Istanbul (IST) is about 20 hours, with a transit stop of 10-14 hours, suitable for transporting large cargo such as solar panels.

Customs clearance time

Iran's customs clearance time is affected by the type of goods, document integrity, and customs efficiency. General cargo (such as electronic products) can be completed in 2-3 days with complete documents, while sensitive cargo (such as lithium batteries) takes 4-6 days and may be extended by 1-3 days due to holidays or policy changes.

Special Circumstances

Holiday Impact:

• During the Iranian New Year (Nowruz, late March) and Islamic holidays, customs clearance efficiency decreases, and delays may reach 5-10 days.
• The Chinese Spring Festival (January-February) may lead to a reduction in flights from the departure point, and booking needs to be done 2 weeks in advance.

Climate Factors: Winter fog in Tehran may cause flights to be diverted to Isfahan (IFN) or Shiraz (SYZ), increasing land travel time by 6-12 hours.

Freight Forwarding Services

Pre-clearance: Submit documents in advance to reduce customs clearance to 2-4 hours.

Charter Direct Flight: Bypass the limitations of passenger aircraft belly space to ensure same-day delivery of fresh goods.

Summary: Time Frame

Fastest: Direct flight (3 days) + agent expedited customs clearance (1 day) → within 4 days

Slowest: Connecting flight (5 days) + holiday customs delay (5 days) → over 10 days

What are the cargo charter flights from China to Iran?

Cargo charter flights from China to Iran are primarily operated by Iran Mahan Air (W5), China Southern Airlines (CZ), Iran Air (IR), and Cathay Pacific (CX). These flights cover six major departure airports in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Urumqi, and Hong Kong, with direct access to Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) and Mashhad International Airport (MHD). Among these, Mahan Air dominates the market, operating direct all-cargo flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen to Tehran with a single flight capacity of 50-110 tons. These flights offer cold chain transportation, heavy equipment carriage, and double clearance tax-inclusive services. Leveraging Urumqi's geographical advantages, China Southern Airlines operates daily flights from Urumqi to Tehran, focusing on fresh cold chain transportation to achieve "same-day" delivery. Iran Air operates a Shenzhen to Mashhad route with two flights per week, transporting textiles and building materials while supporting less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments. Cathay Pacific, using Hong Kong as its hub, offers daily direct flights to Tehran, specializing in electronic products and cross-border e-commerce packages with a "next-day delivery" service.

Airline Information

Mahan Air (W5): Mahan Air operates an all-cargo route from Beijing (PEK) to Tehran (IKA) with flight numbers W5079/W5078, frequency D2457 (every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday), segment PEK-IKA (direct flight). It also operates an all-cargo route from Shanghai (PVG) to Tehran (IKA) with flight numbers W5076/W5075, frequency D1246 (every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday), segment PVG-IKA (direct flight). Additionally, it operates an all-cargo route from Guangzhou (CAN) to Tehran (IKA) with flight numbers W5081/W5080, frequency D156 (every Monday, Friday, and Saturday), segment CAN-IKA (direct flight). Furthermore, it operates an all-cargo route from Shenzhen (SZX) to Tehran (IKA) with flight numbers W5086/W5087, frequency D14 (every Monday and Thursday), segment SZX-IKA (direct flight).

China Southern Airlines (CZ): China Southern Airlines operates an all-cargo route from Urumqi (URC) to Tehran (IKA) with flight number CZ6025, frequency D1234567 (daily), segment URC-IKA (direct flight).

Iran Air (IR): Iran Air operates an all-cargo route from Shenzhen (SZX) to Mashhad (MHD) with flight number IR829, frequency D25 (twice a week), segment SZX-MHD (direct flight).

Cathay Pacific (CX): Cathay Pacific operates an all-cargo route from Hong Kong (HKG) to Tehran (IKA) with flight number CX068, frequency D1234567 (daily), segment HKG-IKA (direct flight).

Route Introductions

Beijing (PEK) - Tehran (IKA) Route: Operated by Mahan Air, flight W5079 flies daily with a capacity of 100 tons (Airbus A340-600), focusing on transporting electronic products (35%), medical equipment (25%), and automotive parts (20%). Relying on the customs express channel at Beijing Capital International Airport, it offers a "pre-clearance" service, reducing customs clearance time for general cargo to 12 hours. The cold chain containers support multi-temperature zone transportation ranging from -20°C to +25°C. In 2024, the monthly transportation volume for durian season exceeded 1,200 tons.

Shanghai (PVG) - Tehran (IKA) Route: Operated by Mahan Air, flight W5076 runs four times a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) with a capacity of 50 tons per flight (Airbus A310-300). It primarily transports e-commerce packages (50%), mechanical parts (30%), and chemical products (10%). This route supports the transportation of small and medium-sized equipment with a maximum single-piece weight of 3 tons and collaborates with Iranian customs to provide a "green customs clearance channel" with a time limit of 1.5-2 days.

Guangzhou (CAN) - Tehran (IKA) Route: Operated by Mahan Air, flight W5081 runs three times a week (Monday, Friday, Saturday) with a capacity of 110 tons per flight (Boeing 747-400F). It specializes in transporting large equipment (single-piece weight limit of 5 tons) and construction materials. In 2025, a "double clearance and tax-inclusive" service will be introduced, covering export customs clearance from China and import customs clearance to Iran, suitable for bulk commodities such as textiles and machinery parts.

Shenzhen (SZX) - Tehran (IKA) Route: Operated by Mahan Air, flight W5086 runs twice a week (Monday and Thursday) with a capacity of 100 tons per flight (Airbus A340-600), focusing on cross-border e-commerce and fresh cold chain services. In 2024, a "72-Hour Express Delivery" service will be launched, compressing the entire customs clearance and transportation process to 3 days. It supports sensitive goods such as lithium batteries and cosmetics (additional declaration required).

Urumqi (URC) - Tehran (IKA) Route: Operated by China Southern Airlines, flight CZ6025 flies daily with a capacity of 103 tons per flight (Boeing 777F). Leveraging Xinjiang's geographical advantages, fresh cold chain transportation accounts for 40% of the total. This route achieves "morning departure and evening arrival," with a direct flight time of 5 hours and 15 minutes, making it suitable for perishable goods like cantaloupe and lamb. In 2025, temperature-controlled containers (-18°C to +25°C) will be added.

Shenzhen (SZX) - Mashhad (MHD) Route: Operated by Iran Air, flight IR829 runs twice a week with a capacity of 90 tons per flight (Boeing 747-200F), focusing on transporting textiles (45%), construction materials (30%), and household goods (20%). This route offers "double clearance and tax-inclusive" services, covering the entire northeast region of Iran. In 2025, a new less-than-container-load (LCL) service will be introduced, with a minimum shipment weight of 100 kilograms.

Hong Kong (HKG) - Tehran (IKA) Route: Operated by Cathay Pacific, flight CX068 flies daily with a capacity of 137 tons per flight (Boeing 747-8F), specializing in electronic products (50%) and cross-border e-commerce packages. Benefiting from Hong Kong's hub advantages, it provides a "next-day delivery" service and supports the transportation of sensitive goods such as lithium batteries and medical equipment. In 2024, the year-on-year growth in e-commerce package transportation volume reached 40%.

How much is the air freight price from China to Iran airport per kilogram?

The price of air freight from China to Iran airport varies significantly depending on the route, airline, and cargo weight. For example, on common routes, Shanghai Pudong to Tehran (direct flight by Iran Mahan Air), the unit price for 100kg+ cargo is 21 yuan/kg, and the price for 1000kg+ is reduced to 16 yuan/kg, with a delivery time of 3-5 days. For transit routes like China Eastern Airlines via Bangkok to Tehran, the price for 100kg+ is 20 yuan/kg, and the price for 1000kg+ is approximately 14 yuan/kg, with a delivery time of 5-7 days. For Guangzhou Baiyun to Tehran (direct flight by Mahan Air), the unit price for 100kg+ is 18 yuan/kg, and the price for 1000kg+ is as low as 13 yuan/kg. For less popular destinations such as Shanghai to Shiraz (transit), the price for 100kg+ is 25 yuan/kg, and the price for 1000kg+ is about 19 yuan/kg. Overall, direct flight routes are 10%-15% cheaper than connecting routes, and the unit price for 1000kg+ cargo is approximately 30% lower than 100kg+. Additionally, fuel surcharges (accounting for 15%-20%) and fluctuations between peak and off-peak seasons (prices may increase by 20%-30% during peak seasons) need to be considered. Specific prices are subject to real-time quotations.

Key Price Influencing Factors

Routes and Flights:

• Direct flight routes (e.g., Shanghai → Tehran) are typically 10% -15% cheaper than connecting routes, but prices may rise when capacity is tight.
• Less popular destinations (e.g., Shiraz, Isfahan) have 20% -30% higher prices than Tehran due to fewer flight options.

Weight and Volume:

• Heavy goods (e.g., mechanical parts) are charged based on actual weight, with 1000kg+ cargo prices approximately 30% lower than 100kg+.
• Light and bulky goods (e.g., textiles) are charged based on volumetric weight (length × width × height ÷ 6000), which may double the shipping cost.

Additional Costs:

• Fuel surcharge: Approximately 15% -20% of the freight cost, potentially adjusted in 2025 due to oil price fluctuations.
• Customs clearance fee: Double clearance tax services (e.g., BRE special route) cost about 30-50 yuan per ticket, with additional fees for standard services.

Market Demand and Season:

• During peak seasons (e.g., e-commerce promotions), prices may increase by 20% -30%, requiring booking 2 weeks in advance.
• In off-season periods (e.g., after the Spring Festival), freight forwarders often offer discounts, with 1000kg+ cargo enjoying a 10% price reduction.