Hunan to Build Itself into a Regional Aviation Hub for Africa

A ceremony marking the launch of the China Southern Airlines Guangzhou-Changsha-Addis Ababa route and the inauguration of the Hunan-Ethiopia International Trade Corridor was held on the morning of October 12, 2026. Yu Hongsheng, vice governor of the People's Government of Hunan Province, attended and addressed the ceremony. Also present were Zeng Yongchao, executive vice president of the China Southern Air Holding Co., Ltd. (CSAH), and Assefa, minister counsellor of the Ethiopian Embassy in China.

Since 2019, Hunan and CSAH have worked together to ensure the steady operation of the Changsha-Nairobi passenger route, handling more than 200,000 passenger trips between China and Africa and transporting over 6,200 tonnes of goods and parcels. Hunan-Africa economic and trade cooperation continues to heat up. Vice Governor Yu Hongsheng noted that in recent years, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo has been permanently hosted in Hunan, the State Council approved the establishment of a pioneering zone for in-depth China-Africa economic and trade cooperation in Hunan, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China explicitly supported Changsha Airport in developing into a gateway hub for African countries. With multiple major policies overlapping and taking effect, Hunan's role as a national pacesetter in China-Africa economic and trade cooperation continues to be enhanced. The opening of the new route marked the official inauguration of the Hunan-Ethiopia International Trade Corridor. It is expected to further strengthen Hunan's aviation network to Africa, address shortcomings in international trade corridors to Africa, and broaden cooperation channels between Hunan and Ethiopia.

The opening of the route is a brand-new starting point, while deepening cooperation and achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes are the ultimate goals. Vice Governor Yu put forward three requirements and expectations for the operation of the route and the corridor:

- First, increasing flight frequency based on market demand, expanding belly-hold capacity, and accelerating the development of an air logistics system that serves both passengers and cargo and ensures smooth two-way flow;

- Second, solidly advancing practical cooperation with African countries and promoting deep integration of industrial, supply, and value chains between the two sides; and,
 
- Third, optimizing customs clearance facilitation measures to safeguard business cooperation and personnel exchanges between Hunan and Africa, and support Hunan in accelerating the building of a regional international aviation hub for Africa.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn