Complete Overview of the Latest Developments in Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia

The air freight service network from China to Saudi Arabia covers major aviation hubs across China, including core airports as well as emerging cargo hubs. These facilities provide efficient and reliable cross-border logistics solutions for various types of goods.

Airports Offering Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia

The air freight service network from China to Saudi Arabia spans major aviation hubs nationwide, with strategic coverage across East China, North China, South China, and the central and western regions. Below are the key airports providing these services:

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG): As China's largest air cargo hub and the world's third-largest freight airport, PVG plays a central role in Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia. With state-of-the-art international cargo facilities and 24-hour customs clearance, it attracts numerous global freight operators, including Middle Eastern airlines. Its extensive route network and efficient cargo handling make it the preferred gateway for high-value goods, electronics, and bulk commodities.
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK): As North China's most important air cargo hub, PEK further strengthened its position in the China-Saudi Arabia air freight network with the launch of direct flights to Riyadh in 2023. Equipped with advanced cold chain logistics facilities, it is ideal for time-sensitive goods like pharmaceuticals and perishables. Its strategic location and rich international routes make it a vital air bridge for North China's trade with Saudi Arabia.
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX): Leveraging the Pearl River Delta's thriving electronics industry, SZX plays a unique role in Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia. Its rapid growth in international cargo throughput and expertise in handling high-value electronics make it a key channel for exporting tech products to Saudi Arabia.
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG): As one of the world's busiest cargo airports, HKG's free port policies and extensive Middle Eastern routes make it indispensable for Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia. Its efficient handling and relaxed trade policies are ideal for high-value goods, luxury items, and time-sensitive shipments.
Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport (URC): Its geographical proximity to the Middle East makes URC a crucial node for Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia, especially for time-sensitive shipments. Its role has grown under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU): As a newly built mega-airport in Southwest China, TFU is emerging as a key player in Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia. Its modern logistics facilities and expanding Middle Eastern routes provide conveniences for regional businesses.
Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY): Northwest China's largest aviation hub, XIY is vital for industrial goods like machinery. Its role as a Belt and Road node enhances its connectivity with the Middle East.
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO): One of China's fastest-growing cargo airports and a key node on the "Air Silk Road," CGO offers dense Middle Eastern routes and specialized cargo zones, making it ideal for bulk shipments.
Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG): As China's gateway to Southeast and South Asia, KMG is expanding its Middle Eastern network, offering unique advantages for trades linking Southeast Asia, China, and Saudi Arabia.
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH): With the Yangtze River Delta's booming e-commerce industry, HGH is a major hub for cross-border Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia, especially for small parcels and high-value goods.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN): As one of China's top three aviation hubs, CAN maintains a traditional advantages in Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia, with extensive Middle Eastern routes ideal for bulk commodities.
Common destinations for air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia include:

Airlines Operating Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia

Air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia are supported by a diverse network of leading global cargo airlines. Major carriers include:

• Air China (CA)
• China Eastern Airlines (MU)
• China Southern Airlines (CZ)
• Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV)
• Turkish Airlines (TK)
• Etihad Airways (EY)
• Qatar Airways (QR)
• Emirates (EK)
• Philippine Airlines (PR)
• Gulf Air (GF)
• Singapore Airlines (SQ)
• Korean Air (KE)
• EgyptAir (MS)
• SriLankan Airlines (UL)
• Malaysia Airlines (MH)
• AirAsia (AK)
• Flydubai (FZ)

Details of major airlines operating air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia:
Air China (CA): The flag - carrier airline of China, with the most complete international route network in China. As one of the main carriers for air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia, Air China uses Beijing Capital International Airport as its main hub and has strong freight - carrying capacity, making it especially suitable for transporting high - value goods and government project materials.
China Eastern Airlines (MU): One of the three major airlines in China based in Shanghai. China Eastern Airlines uses Shanghai as its central hub, radiating to many domestic and international cities and dominating the freight market in the Yangtze River Delta region. Its newly opened Shanghai - Riyadh route provides a more convenient eastern channel for air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia.
China Southern Airlines (CZ): The airline with the largest fleet size, the most transport aircraft, and the most developed route network in Asia. The Middle East route network of its Guangzhou hub is extensive. China Southern Airlines has obvious advantages in air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia, especially suitable for transporting time - sensitive goods such as electronic products.
Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV): The national airline of Saudi Arabia, with a freight network covering the whole of Saudi Arabia. As a local carrier for air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia, SV has a deep understanding of the Saudi customs and logistics system and can provide end - to - end transportation solutions.
Turkish Airlines (TK): Its air transportation network covers regions such as Europe, Asia, the Near East, the Middle East, the African continent, and the Americas. Thanks to the geographical advantage of its Istanbul hub, TK provides efficient transfer services for air freight from China to Saudi Arabia. Its extensive Europe - Middle East network provides more possibilities for multimodal transport.
Etihad Airways (EY): The national airline of the United Arab Emirates, with Abu Dhabi as its hub. It has a modern fleet and high - quality services, and its route network covers many regions around the world. Etihad Airways provides professional temperature - controlled cargo transportation services in the air freight market from China to Saudi Arabia, especially suitable for pharmaceuticals and fresh products.
Qatar Airways (QR): A world - class freight airline with advanced facilities at its Doha hub, connecting more than 150 important business and leisure destinations. Qatar Airways provides high - frequency services in air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia and is especially good at transporting oversized and special goods.
Emirates Airlines (EK): A world - class airline based at the Dubai hub, with routes covering 142 destinations on six continents. It has a large freight fleet with a relatively young average fleet age. Emirates Airlines occupies an important share in the air freight market from China to Saudi Arabia. Using its dense route network and efficient logistics operations, it provides reliable regular freight services.
Philippine Airlines (PR): Serves domestic and international routes, with Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila as its main hub, and has an advantage in the Southeast Asia - Middle East freight market. Philippine Airlines provides an economical option for air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia, especially suitable for ordinary commercial and trade goods.
Gulf Air (GF): The national airline of Bahrain, with its route network covering regions such as the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Gulf Air provides flexible solutions in air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia through cooperation with other airlines or its own route layout, especially suitable for goods in transit through Bahrain.
Singapore Airlines (SQ): Renowned for its high - quality services and advanced fleet, with first - class facilities at its Singapore hub and an extensive route layout in Asia. Singapore Airlines provides high - standard cargo - handling services in air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia, especially suitable for high - end goods such as precision instruments.
Korean Air (KE): A leading freight airline in Asia, with routes connecting multiple cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Qingdao. Its Incheon hub is highly efficient. Korean Air provides multiple temperature - control options in air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia, especially suitable for transporting electronic products.
EgyptAir (MS): A major airline in North Africa, with its Cairo hub route network covering regions such as Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. EgyptAir provides a unique transfer option through its Cairo hub airport for air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia, with competitive freight rates.
SriLankan Airlines (UL): An airline based at the Colombo hub, with its route network covering regions such as Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia, and has an advantage in the South Asian market. SriLankan Airlines provides an economical transfer plan for air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia, suitable for ordinary goods.
Malaysia Airlines (MH): An airline based at the Kuala Lumpur hub, with a complete Southeast Asian network and routes covering regions such as Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America. Malaysia Airlines provides stable services in air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia, especially suitable for goods in transit through Malaysia.
AirAsia (AK): A leading low - cost airline in Southeast Asia, characterized by providing affordable air services with obvious freight price advantages. AirAsia provides a cost - effective option for air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia, suitable for price - sensitive general goods.
Flydubai (FZ): A low - cost airline in Dubai with an extensive Middle East route coverage. flydubai provides economical services in the air freight market from China to Saudi Arabia, especially suitable for light goods such as e - commerce small packages, and plays a complementary and auxiliary role in the route network of Emirates Airlines.

Transit Time for Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia

1. Direct Flights (China → Saudi Arabia)
Direct flights offer the shortest transit time, minimizing delays.

• Beijing (PEK/PKX): ~9-10 hours
• Shanghai (PVG): ~10-11 hours
• Guangzhou (CAN): ~9-10 hours
• Shenzhen (SZX): ~10-11 hours
• Hong Kong (HKG): ~10-11 hours

2. Connecting Flights (China → Transit Hub → Saudi Arabia)
Connecting flights add layover time to the total transit duration.

• Via Doha (DOH): ~13-15 hours
• Via Dubai (DXB): ~14-16 hours
• Via Istanbul (IST): ~15-17 hours
• Via Singapore (SIN): ~16-18 hours
• Via Bangkok (BKK): ~14-16 hours

3. Customs Clearance Time

• Normal Customs Clearance: Customs clearance in Saudi Arabia usually takes 3 - 7 days. If all documents are complete (such as commercial invoices, certificates of origin, SASO certifications, etc.), the process can be expedited.
• Complex Customs Clearance: If special goods (such as food, cosmetics, electronic products) are involved, additional inspections may be required, and the customs clearance time may be extended to 7 - 15 days.

4. Special Circumstances

• Impact of Holidays: During the Saudi Ramadan and Hajj seasons, the efficiency of customs and logistics decreases, and the transportation time may be extended by 2 - 5 days.
• Weather/Flight Delays: Extreme weather (such as sandstorms) may lead to flight cancellations or rescheduling, affecting the timeliness.
• Logistics Peak Periods: During e - commerce promotion seasons (such as Double 11, Ramadan shopping season), the tight cargo space may extend the transportation time.

5. Total Transit Time

• Direct flights: 1-2 days total (flight + 1-3 days clearance).
• Connecting flights: 1-3 days or longer, depending on layovers and clearance. Delays may extend this to 5-7 days.

6. Summary
Transit time depends on routing (direct/connecting), customs efficiency, and external factors. Direct flights are fastest (3-5 days), while connecting flights typically take 5-7 days. Customs clearance usually requires 1-3 days but may delay for inspections. Holidays, weather, or congestion can further impact timelines. Overall, total transit time ranges from 5-10 days.

Charter Flights for Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia

Charter flights offer flexible and efficient solutions, connecting major Chinese hubs with key Saudi cities. Below are the routes and operators:

Specific Information of Charter Flights for Air Freight from Each Chinese Airport to Saudi Arabia:
1. Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

• Main Routes: PEK - RUH/JED/DMM
• Carrier Airlines: Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV), Air China (CA), Hainan Airlines (HU)
• Features and Suggestions: As an important northern hub, Capital Airport offers multiple direct routes to Saudi Arabia, making it suitable for transporting high - value goods in North China. It is recommended to book the wide - body cargo aircraft cabins of CA in advance.

2. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

• Main Routes: PVG - RUH/PVG/DMM
• Carrier Airlines: Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV), Turkish Airlines (TK), Etihad Airways (EY), Gulf Air (GF), Qatar Airways (QR), Philippine Airlines (PR), China Eastern Airlines (MU)
• Features and Suggestions: It has the most complete freight network to Saudi Arabia in East China, and many Middle Eastern airlines provide transfer services. The temperature - controlled freight service of EY is worth attention.

3. Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC)

• Main Routes: URC - RUH/JED
• Carrier Airlines: Irexstan Air (KW), China Southern Airlines (CZ)
• Features and Suggestions: It has an obvious geographical advantage with a relatively short flight time. KW provides economic - type charter services, which is suitable for cost - sensitive bulk goods.

4. Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH)

• Main Routes: WUH - RUH
• Carrier Airlines: Air China (CA)
• Features and Suggestions: It is an important freight node in Central China. CA provides customized charter services, which is especially suitable for transporting industrial products such as auto parts.

5. Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU)

• Main Routes: TFU - JED
• Carrier Airlines: Qatar Airways (QR)
• Features and Suggestions: As an emerging freight hub in Southwest China, the transfer service of QR via Doha is stable, which is suitable for transporting electronic products.

6. Nanning Wuxu International Airport (NNG)

• Main Routes: NNG - JED
• Carrier Airlines: Qatar Airways (QR)
• Features and Suggestions: It is a characteristic route facing the ASEAN market. QR provides cold - chain transportation solutions, which is suitable for the export of fresh agricultural products.

7. Taiyuan Wusu International Airport (TYN)

• Main Routes: TYN - DMM/JED
• Carrier Airlines: Vietnam Airlines (VN)
• Features and Suggestions: It is an economic option in Central China. The transfer plan of VN has obvious price advantages, which is suitable for ordinary commercial and trade goods.

8. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)

• Main Routes: CAN - RUH/DMM/JED
• Carrier Airlines: Turkish Airlines (TK), EgyptAir (MS), Philippine Royal Air (RW)
• Features and Suggestions: As the hub with the largest freight volume in South China, the African transfer network of MS can supplement special routes.

9. Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX)

• Main Routes: SZX - RUH/DMM/JED
• Carrier Airlines: Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Emirates Airlines (EK), Turkish Airlines (TK)
• Features and Suggestions: As an area concentrated with the electronics industry, the freight routes of SV have the most guaranteed timeliness, which is suitable for high - value electronic products.

10. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

• Main Routes: HKG - RUH/DMM/JED
• Carrier Airlines: Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV), Turkish Airlines (TK), Emirates Airlines (EK), Etihad Airways (EY), Cathay Pacific (CX)
• Features and Suggestions: It has obvious free - port advantages. The freight service of CX is professional and reliable, which is especially suitable for high - value goods such as luxury goods.

Pricing for Air Freight Services from China to Saudi Arabia

The cost of air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia is influenced by multiple factors, including departure airport, route selection, cargo weight, and seasonal market fluctuations. Below are the reference rates for air freight services:

Key pricing insights of the cost of air freight services from China to Saudi Arabia:

• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
• Price Range: 3.6 - 5.0 $/kg
• Features: It has strong price competitiveness. Especially for the routes of Gulf Air (GF), the price for 300KG+ is as low as 3.73 $/kg. There are many transfer options (Bahrain BAH, Abu Dhabi AUH).
• Suggestions: It is suitable for shippers in East China. For bulk goods, GF can be given priority, and for those with high - timeliness requirements, EY's direct flights can be selected.
• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
• Price Range: 3.4 - 10.3 $/kg
• Features: The price span is large. Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV) has the highest price for small - volume (45KG+) goods (10.3 $/kg), but for 1000KG+ goods, the price is as low as 4.2 $/kg. Qatar Airways (QR)'s transfer via Doha (DOH) has high cost - performance (3.7 $/kg for 300KG+).
• Suggestions: For large - volume goods, SV or QR can be chosen. For small - volume goods, EgyptAir (MS) can be considered.
• Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX)
• Price Range: 3.7 - 5.9 $/kg
• Features: China Southern Airlines (CZ)'s direct flight to Riyadh has a stable price (3.74 $/kg for 500KG+). Turkish Airlines (TK)'s transfer via Istanbul (IST) is suitable for high - timeliness requirements.
• Suggestions: Shippers of electronic products can give priority to CZ's direct flights, and for transfers in the Middle East, EY can be selected.
• Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
• Price Range: 3.3 - 19.8 $/kg
• Features: The price difference is huge. Oman Air (WY)'s price can be as low as 3.35 $/kg (for 1000KG+), while Turkish Airlines (TK)'s high price reaches 19.8 $/kg. There are rich transfer hubs (Bangkok BKK, Doha DOH, Dubai DWC, etc.).
• Suggestions: For bulk goods, WY's transfer via Bangkok can be selected, and TK's high - price routes should be avoided.
• Ezhou Huahu Airport (EHU)
• Price Range: 3.3 - 4.4 $/kg
• Features: As China's newest freight hub, it has highly competitive prices (as low as 3.3 $/kg for 1000KG+). Currently, only Etihad Airways (EY) operates flights, with transfers via Abu Dhabi (AUH).
• Suggestions: Shippers in Central China can give priority to considering it, as it has outstanding cost - performance. However, it should be noted that the transfer time is slightly longer than that of direct flights.

Tips:

• Avoid high - price routes such as HKG - TK (for 45kg+, 19.8 $/kg).
• Confirm the connection efficiency of transfer airports.

February 2025 Air Freight Rates from Major Chinese Cities to Saudi Arabia

• Shanghai (PVG): $3.5–5.0/kg
• Beijing (PEK/PKX): $4.0–5.5/kg
• Guangzhou (CAN): $3.4–5.5/kg
• Shenzhen (SZX): $3.7–5.9/kg
• Hong Kong (HKG): $3.3–6.0/kg
• Wuhan (WUH): $4.2–5.8/kg
• Chengdu (TFU): $4.0–5.2/kg
• Ürümqi (URC): $3.8–5.0/kg