Following its successful operations to Hong Kong and Urumqi, UAE-based air cargo carrier strengthens trade corridors between the UAE, China and key global markets
Dubai, UAE, July 08, 2026: SolitAir, the UAE’s dedicated B2B, airport-to-airport cargo airline, today announced the launch of a new route connecting its hub at Dubai World Central (DWC) to Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN), further strengthening the carrier’s presence in China following successful operations to Hong Kong and Urumqi.
The inaugural flight carried a VIP cargo shipment, highlighting the strategic importance of the new corridor for customers requiring bespoke, secure, reliable and time-critical air freight solutions. The Tianjin route marks another key step in expanding the carrier’s connectivity across the country.
Located in northern China, the 14 million-inhabitant port city is one of the country’s largest industrial and logistics centres and serves as the principal maritime and air gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic region, which contributed 8.5% of China’s GDP in 2025.
Tianjin Port ranks among the world’s busiest ports, handling more than 23 million TEUs annually, while Tianjin Binhai International Airport provides vital air cargo connectivity for advanced manufacturing sectors including automotive, aerospace, electronics, pharmaceuticals and high-value industrial equipment. The city also plays an increasingly important role in facilitating trade under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Hamdi Osman, Founder and CEO of SolitAir, said: “China continues to be one of the most important growth markets for global trade and expanding our network to Tianjin reflects our commitment to serving the evolving needs of our customers. Tianjin gives us direct access to one of northern China’s most dynamic manufacturing and logistics hubs while strengthening the US$111 billion non-oil trade links between China and the UAE.”
The Tianjin launch builds on SolitAir’s established presence across China, which already includes operations to Hong Kong and Urumqi and comes hard-on-the-heels of the carrier’s recent entry into Europe with its inaugural route to Sofia, Bulgaria.
Since its operational launch in October 2024, SolitAir has grown to 56 routes across 33 countries, including an 18-city network across Africa and continues to add destinations that connect commercially vital, time-sensitive trade corridors between Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
SolitAir operates a fleet of seven Boeing 737-800 BCF freighters, each with 20-tonne cargo capacity, optimised for the reliability, range and versatility required to carry dangerous goods, pharmaceuticals, perishables, valuable and oversized freight. The airline is targeting fleet growth to 20 aircraft, operating from its 20,440-square-metre cargo hub at Dubai World Central (DWC), Al Maktoum International Airport.
###
About SolitAir
Headquartered at Dubai World Central (DWC), SolitAir is the UAE’s dedicated next-generation B2B, airport-to-airport, express middle-mile cargo airline, connecting Dubai to key global trade hubs across the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia, China, and Europe. Operating from its 20,440sqm state-of-the-art logistics hub at DWC, SolitAir is strategically positioned to enable fast, secure, and high-volume cargo movement. The facility offers direct landside access for trucks and road feeder movements, direct airside access with runway connectivity for faster uplift and transfer, and sea–air connectivity via Jebel Ali Port, leveraging free zone status for seamless onward distribution. It operates under full custodial control, with on-site customs and police presence supported by 24/7 CCTV surveillance, and functions as a fully integrated bonded facility for freight consolidation, processing, import handling, customs clearance, direct customer delivery, and wider network connectivity. Designed to complement freight forwarders, integrators, airlines, SMEs, and e-commerce businesses, SolitAir has achieved a 98%+ on-time delivery rate across its network. The airline’s integrated platform spans four core service verticals — On-Demand Charters, Tailor-Made Programs, Scheduled Flights, and ACMI Services — enabling tailored solutions across both high-demand and underserved routes. SolitAir holds a UAE GCAA Air Operator Certificate (AOC), Dangerous Goods certification, EASA Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation, United Kingdom Third Country Operator Certificate, and ACC3 designation from the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority, authorising secure cargo operations to and from the European Union. The airline is equipped to handle Dangerous Goods Classes 1–9, pharmaceuticals, perishables, valuables, vulnerable cargo, oversized cargo, and e-commerce shipments. Its special cargo handling capabilities include a 402sqm sterile Dangerous Goods room, a 136sqm freezer room operating from 0°C to -25°C, and a 680sqm chiller room. SolitAir operates a fleet of seven Boeing 737-800 BCF freighters, targeting 14 aircraft by the end of 2026 and 20 by 2027. Since launching operations in October 2024, the airline has grown to 56 routes across 34 countries and 18 African destinations, achieving key milestones ahead of schedule and earning 16 industry awards. Founded and led by the CEO Hamdi Osman, a logistics veteran with over four decades of experience, including 34 years as a senior executive at FedEx, SolitAir is powered by a leadership team with a combined 2,500 years of aviation and logistics expertise.
For further information, please contact:
Nabil Moufarrej
Chief Marketing Officer, SolitAir
Cell: +971 55 988 3784 | E: nmoufarrej@solitairholding.com
