Port of Seattle Welcomes Shanghai-Based Cargo Carrier to Sea-Tac Airport

Shanghai-based air cargo carrier, Great Wall Airlines, will be making its inaugural stop at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport this weekend as the beginning of new service connecting Seattle to the fastest growing cargo market in the world. Great Wall will begin regular service to Shanghai three times a week and the Port of Seattle could realize an increase in their international cargo tonnage by five to ten percent or more.

"This is great news for the international cargo business at Sea-Tac," said John Creighton, Port of Seattle Commission President. "Asia continues to be an important source for future growth in cargo traffic, and routes connecting Asia to North America are among those with the highest expected growth rates. The Port of Seattle will be on the leading edge to take advantage of this commerce for our entire region."

The service not only allows freight to be brought in but will also help deliver local goods to China, such as Washington cherries, agricultural products and other commodities.

Great Wall Airlines chose Seattle as their first North American route stop due to consultation with their top 10 customers. When polled, Great Wall customers asked for Seattle to be the west coast port stop in a route also connected to Chicago.

Specifically, the route will run from Shanghai to Seoul to Seattle and then Chicago. The outbound route will reverse from Chicago - Seattle - Seoul - Shanghai. Great Wall will be flying one of Boeing's largest freighters, a Boeing 747-400F capable of transporting more than 110 tons of cargo.

The beginning of Great Wall's service to Shanghai will resume direct cargo service to China at Sea-Tac which has been without such service since China Cargo stopped its service in 2006, although other Asian carriers at Sea-Tac include China as part of their networks.

International air freight alone grew by 4% in 2007 at Sea-Tac. In the last ten years, international air freight has steadily increased at Sea-Tac, going from 17% of total airport cargo volumes in 1998 to 28% in 2007.