KOTRA-Korean Air Expand Routes Supporting SME Air Export

Incheon-Tokyo Narita Cargo Flight
Provides Dedicated Space up to 6 Tons Twice a Week

Korean Air Cargo Plane. (Photo by Korean Air)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] KOTRA and Korean Air announced on the 2nd that they will provide dedicated shipping space and freight discount benefits for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) export cargo of up to 6 tons per week on the Incheon-Tokyo Narita cargo flight route twice a week until the end of the year. This is an addition of one more supported route just three months after providing SME-dedicated services on the Incheon-Frankfurt cargo flight in May.

According to the Korea Customs Service, from the beginning of this year to May, the number of B/L (Bill of Lading) cases for air cargo exports to Japan reached 1,743,929, accounting for 29.5% of the total. This means that one out of every four air export cargo shipments was exported to Japan. Eom Jae-dong, Head of Korean Air's Cargo Business Division, said, "Korean Air plans to actively supply (the necessary services) where customers need them to contribute to smooth logistics and a stable export environment for companies."

The two organizations signed a business agreement in May to support air transportation for SMEs and have been providing dedicated shipping space and freight discount benefits of up to 6 tons per week on the Incheon-Frankfurt cargo flight route. Thanks to this, various products such as prototype cargo bicycles, automobile parts, raw materials for clothing, hair conditioners, hair dyes, sunscreen, cosmetics, game consoles, pet clothing, and kitchen mats destined for global companies could be loaded onto the Frankfurt-bound cargo flights. Kim Yoon-tae, Head of KOTRA's SME Division, said, "Logistics is like the lifeblood of industry that enables fast and safe import and export," adding, "We will strengthen the logistics support system connecting air, sea, and land and make further efforts to solve logistics difficulties in various areas."

KOTRA operates overseas joint logistics centers in 79 countries in cooperation with 236 logistics companies. In the first half of the year alone, 1,315 companies exported more than 1.2 billion dollars (about 1.57 trillion won) through the fulfillment services (storage, delivery, and marketing agency) provided by the joint logistics centers. They have also secured shipping space on 14 global routes with 45 ports of call, providing 190 TEU (1 TEU = one 20-foot container) of cargo weekly.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.