SolitAir, the UAE’s dedicated B2B, airport-to-airport cargo airline operating express daily scheduled, and charter services and offering bespoke solutions between Dubai and key trade routes across the Global South, has launched its first direct service to Urumqi, China. The new route strengthens the airline’s expanding network and deepens trade connectivity between two of the world’s most dynamic economies.
The new service is SolitAir’s first direct route to mainland China, following the successful operation to Hong Kong and a significant achievement in the carrier’s expansion strategy across the Global South.
China is the UAE’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching over US $101.8 billion in 2024—an increase of about 7% from the previous year—and is expected to grow further in 2025.
Urumqi is a vital trade and transport node linking China to Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Historically recognized as the last major stopover along the ‘Silk Road,’ the city’s geographic proximity to key Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) routes makes it a critical logistics gateway. Its significance is rapidly growing with increasing demand for cross-border e-commerce, time-sensitive shipments and high-value goods.
By linking Dubai directly to Urumqi, SolitAir offers faster transit for time-sensitive cargo such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, fashion goods and perishables – meeting high demand on a strategically important route.
SolitAir currently operates a versatile fleet of five Boeing 737-800 BCF freighters, with two more aircraft set to join by the end of August 2025. The airline aims to expand its fleet to 20 aircraft by 2027, with a vision to connect over 50 cities within a six-hour flight radius from Dubai.
Operating from its 22,000 sqm logistics facility at Dubai World Central (DWC), the airline runs express middle-mile services across major trade routes in the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, STAN-countries, and now China.
The carrier’s tech-enabled, customer-centric model, SolitAir has already earned eight industry awards in just eight months, including ‘Game Changer in Air Cargo 2025’ and ‘The Air Cargo Operator Award.’ Fittingly, the number eight symbolizes prosperity and success in Chinese culture – making SolitAir’s entry into China a particularly auspicious milestone.
