At 17:35 on November 18th, an Airbus A330 freighter, fully loaded with 56.584 tons of cargo, took off from Kunming Changshui International Airport. Following a technical stop for refueling in Navoi, Uzbekistan, it smoothly arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, around 5:30 AM Beijing time the following day. This marks the official launch of the regular cargo flight route between Kunming and Istanbul, establishing a brand-new, highly efficient air logistics channel between Yunnan and the Eurasian continent.

It is understood that this route has been jointly opened by Yunnan Aviation Industry Investment Group Co., Ltd. and China Post Group Co., Ltd. Yunnan Provincial Branch, and is operated by Turkish carrier MNG Cargo Airlines. The Airbus A330 freighter operates four flights per week, with each flight having a maximum cargo capacity of up to 60 tons. Export goods will primarily consist of featured products such as apparel, footwear, and fresh flowers from Yunnan.

The success of this inaugural flight is inseparable from the efficient collaboration of the ground support team at Kunming Changshui International Airport and its various joint inspection authorities. It also sets four new records: it is the airport's longest-haul route to date, the first to connect Europe and Asia, the one with the highest single-aircraft cargo capacity, and the first dedicated regular international cross-border e-commerce cargo route.

In recent years, the international cargo business at Kunming Changshui International Airport has developed rapidly. Data shows that from January to October 2025, the airport has operated 8 international full freighter routes, with an international cargo and mail throughput of 57,400 tons, a year-on-year increase of 54.5%. The full-year international cargo and mail throughput is projected to reach 70,000 tons.