China Eastern Airlines celebrates decade-long Chilean cherry imports

Some 76 tons of fresh cherries from Chile arrive at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Nov 20 by a chartered freight operated by China Eastern Airlines. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)

A shipment of 76 tons of fresh cherries from Chile arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Wednesday, marking the 10th anniversary of China Eastern Airlines transporting fresh cherries from the South American country to China. The Shanghai-based carrier commemorated this milestone with a special freighter painted with a theme celebrating the decade-long partnership.

The cherries embarked on their journey from Santiago, Chile, and arrived in Shanghai after a 25-hour flight. This shipment is part of a broader effort by China Eastern Airlines, which has transported over 50,000 tons of cherries, salmon, and other agricultural products from Chile to China over the past 10 years. The total value of these imports has surpassed $1 billion, significantly enriching the choices available to Chinese consumers and benefiting Chilean agriculture.

In recognition of the growing demand for fresh produce, China Eastern Airlines has announced plans to transport approximately 12,000 tons of cherries during the 2024 and 2025 cherry seasons, with 5,500 tons expected to be shipped by air.

Over the past decade, the number of China Eastern's chartered flights dedicated to delivering fresh products has increased dramatically, from just two flights 10 years ago to about 350 flights this year.