Air China Air Cargo Profile
Review verified carrier details, codes, cargo operations, hubs, fleet information, and network coverage where available.
Air China
IATA: CAFlag carrier of China and a Star Alliance member, with cargo run by Beijing-based Air China Cargo on freighters and belly capacity.
Air China is the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, formed in 1988 when the former CAAC monopoly was split into separate airlines. Based in Beijing and part of the state-owned Air China Group, it joined Star Alliance in December 2007 and operates a passenger fleet of roughly 530 aircraft. Its main hub is Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), with secondary operations at Chengdu and Shanghai. Air freight moves through two channels: the belly holds of its widebody passenger jets and the dedicated freighters of its cargo subsidiary, Air China Cargo.
Air China at a glance
- Cargo division
- Air China Cargo
- Headquarters
- Beijing, China
- Founded
- 1988
- IATA / ICAO code
- CA / CAO
- Cargo fleet
- ~23 dedicated freighters (about 12 Boeing 777F, 8 Airbus A330-200/P2F, 3 Boeing 747-400F), with 10 Airbus A350F on order, plus belly cargo across Air China's passenger fleet of roughly 530 aircraft
- Cargo hubs
- Beijing Capital (PEK), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN)
- Parent group
- Air China Group (China National Aviation Holding)
- Alliance
- Star Alliance
- Main cargo routes
- China to North America, Europe, and intra-Asia trunk lanes
- Official website
- www.airchina.com.cn
About Air China
Air China is the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, formed in 1988 when the former CAAC monopoly was split into separate airlines. Based in Beijing and part of the state-owned Air China Group, it joined Star Alliance in December 2007 and operates a passenger fleet of roughly 530 aircraft. Its main hub is Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), with secondary operations at Chengdu and Shanghai. Air freight moves through two channels: the belly holds of its widebody passenger jets and the dedicated freighters of its cargo subsidiary, Air China Cargo.
Air China Cargo, established in 2003, is the group's all-cargo arm and one of China's largest scheduled freight operators. Ownership was restructured so that Air China holds 51 percent and Cathay Pacific 49 percent, and the unit completed a Shenzhen Stock Exchange listing in December 2024, the mainland's largest IPO of that year. It flies to roughly two dozen international routes across North America, Europe, and Asia, and markets itself under the Air China Cargo brand with the ICAO code CAO and callsign Air China Freight.
The freighter fleet centres on about 12 Boeing 777F long-haul aircraft, supported by 8 Airbus A330-200 converted freighters (P2F) for regional and medium-haul lanes and 3 remaining Boeing 747-400F. Ten Airbus A350F are on order for delivery from 2029. The main cargo hub is Beijing Capital (PEK), with Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) as key gateways. Typical cargo includes cross-border e-commerce, electronics, machinery components, and time-sensitive shipments on the China to US and China to Europe corridors.
Using this airline profile
Use the IATA and ICAO codes, cargo division, hubs, and network information on this page to identify the operating carrier and confirm shipment details with Air China or your freight forwarder.
Air China air cargo FAQ
What is Air China's cargo brand and ICAO code?
Freight is handled by Air China Cargo, the group's all-cargo subsidiary. It uses the ICAO code CAO and the callsign Air China Freight, while the passenger mainline shares the IATA code CA.
Where is Air China Cargo based and what does it fly?
It is based in Beijing and hubs at Beijing Capital (PEK), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), and Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN). Its freighter fleet is led by Boeing 777F aircraft, alongside Airbus A330-200 converted freighters and a few Boeing 747-400F, with Airbus A350F freighters on order.
Who owns Air China Cargo?
Air China holds 51 percent and Cathay Pacific 49 percent, with Air China itself part of the state-owned Air China Group. The cargo unit listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in December 2024.