SAL Logistics Partners with China’s SF Airlines to Expand Saudi Air Cargo Operations

Saudi Arabia’s SAL Logistics Services has signed a partnership agreement with China’s SF Airlines to provide air cargo ground-handling services, marking another step in the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen logistics links with one of its largest trading partners and support the goals of Vision 2030.

The agreement was signed through SAL’s Ground Handling Division and will see the Saudi company deliver integrated operational and cargo-handling services for SF Airlines, one of China’s largest dedicated air cargo carriers and a subsidiary of logistics giant SF Express.

SF Airlines operates a global network serving more than 130 destinations and maintains major aviation hubs in Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Beijing and Ezhou. The partnership is expected to improve cargo handling efficiency, aircraft turnaround times and service reliability for the airline’s operations in Saudi Arabia.

The deal comes as Saudi Arabia and China continue to deepen trade and investment relations. The Kingdom has been investing heavily in transport and logistics infrastructure as part of its economic diversification strategy, with a focus on strengthening supply chains and positioning itself as a leading regional distribution and logistics centre.

According to SAL, the agreement combines its expertise in ground handling and air cargo services with SF Airlines’ international freight operations to improve operational performance and enhance the movement of goods between the two countries.

In a statement posted on X, SAL said it will provide integrated operational services, including air cargo handling, aircraft loading and unloading, as well as a range of related ground services for SF Airlines’ flights operating in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has identified aviation and logistics as key sectors under Vision 2030. The Saudi Aviation Strategy aims to increase annual passenger traffic to 330 million, expand connectivity to more than 250 international destinations and raise the country’s annual air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tonnes by the end of the decade.

To support those ambitions, the Kingdom has been attracting international airlines and cargo operators while expanding airport infrastructure and logistics facilities to strengthen regional and global trade routes.

SAL said the latest partnership forms part of its broader strategy to improve operational efficiency, enhance service quality and expand its portfolio of integrated air cargo services. The company added that the agreement strengthens its long-term relationships with leading international carriers while supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global hub for trade, transport and logistics.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, SF Airlines has grown into one of China’s leading freight carriers, operating an extensive international cargo network that supports cross-border trade and e-commerce.

SAL said the agreement reflects its commitment to maintaining high operational standards while supporting the continued growth of Saudi Arabia’s air cargo sector, strengthening supply chains and enhancing the Kingdom’s competitiveness in regional and international logistics markets.