A cargo flight route linking Changsha, Hunan province and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, began operating on Wednesday. It is the first direct cargo flight to Africa from Hunan province.

Two flights a week are planned, with an estimated load of 17,000 metric tons of goods.

The first flight, which departed on Wednesday, was loaded with 95 tons of goods, including e-commerce products and high-tech, medical and other value-added products.

The opening of the Changsha-Addis Ababa route will greatly improve the efficiency of transportation between Hunan and Africa, providing easier access to Hunan products for people in Africa and some South American countries, said Yao Yingjie, chairman of Hunan Airport Management Corp.

Economic exchanges between Hunan and Africa have seen steady growth in recent years. In 2021, trade between Hunan and Africa reached 40 billion yuan ($5.9 billion) — 38.5 percent growth year-on-year. From January to May, trade reached 17.6 billion yuan between the two sides.