Jiaxing Nanhu Airport in East China's Zhejiang province has received official approval for a temporary port opening, making it the first dedicated air freight hub in the Yangtze River Delta region with international access.

This move will enable the airport to launch international cargo operations and lay the foundation for future international flight routes.

The approval creates new opportunities for local industries. For instance, Xu Wei, chairman of Jiaxing Houbang Import and Export, held a meeting with Russian clients in Honghe town on Feb 11.

The airport's temporary port opening has sparked a transformation in the local sweater industry, which exports over 200 million sweaters annually — 70 million to Russia and 40 million to South Korea. Historically driven by price competition, the industry now faces pressure to improve product quality and design due to rising air transportation costs.

Jiaxing Nanhu Airport, with its 33 specialized cargo stands, was designed for efficient logistics operations and serves as a key hub in the air freight network, helping to alleviate cargo congestion at nearby airports.

YTO Express has invested in the Dongfang Tiandi Port project at the airport, where over 90 percent of operations are dedicated to international cargo services. In 2026, YTO plans to deploy eight freighters in Jiaxing, launch 11 international air cargo routes, and achieve international cargo throughput of over 80,000 metric tons.