At 10:37 on 17th November, a cargo plane arrived at Ezhou Huahu Airport from Frankfurt, Germany, carrying a large-scale production equipment, a turbo-expander. Once the turbo-expander was unloaded from the aircraft, it was promptly cleared and picked up under Ezhou Customs' supervision using a "direct loading and unloading" approach. By approximately 12 o'clock, the turbo-expander was loaded onto a truck and transported away. This event marked the first instance of import goods being cleared at Huahu Airport using the "direct loading and unloading" method.
Typically, after imported goods arrive at the airport, they must be transported to the airport's cargo warehouse, and undergo various processes such as unloading and transportation, before the pick-up operation. This entire process takes more than 24 hours. For large, high-value, precision instruments and equipment, it is challenging to strictly control the transfer and unloading process. Even a minor mishap could lead to huge losses for companies. However, the "direct loading and unloading" model offers a solution. Cargo companies can apply for this procedure with customs before the goods arrive in the country. Customs will duly arrange for a dedicated person to coordinate and understand the flight arrival plans and the status of the goods. After the goods arrive, the cargo company's trucks can directly pick up the goods from the apron and transport them away.
"Applying the 'direct loading and unloading' model for customs clearance not only saves time for companies but also guarantees that the equipment can be installed and debugged directly at the factory in perfect condition. This is definitely a major advantage," stated Fang Jiong, Deputy Manager of the Air Transport Department at Wuhan Branch of JHJ International Transportation Co., Ltd.
The "direct loading and unloading" supervision model at the apron is one of the measures vigorously promoted by Wuhan Customs this year, building on the comprehensive implementation of "direct loading and unloading" at waterway ports. The aim is to improve the business environment, reduce the time required for import goods clearance, and effectively lower the logistics costs and security risks for companies. Hu Cheng, Deputy Director of the Port Supervision Division of Wuhan Customs, stated that in the next phase, they will further implement various measures to optimise the business environment, allowing foreign trade companies to enjoy more convenient measures.
Since starting international cargo operations in April this year, Huahu Airport has processed a total of 30,000 tons of international air cargo business. With the support of Ezhou Customs, the airport continues to enhance its clearance business models, meeting various international logistics demands and providing more options for foreign trade companies.