On April 10, Urumqi Tianshan International Airport launched a direct cargo flight to Brussels, marking northwest China's first intercontinental all-cargo route to the European political and logistics hub. Operated by a Boeing 777 freighter carrying e-commerce goods, the route brings the airport's total international cargo routes to 36 across 22 countries. Europe-bound flights now account for 20 of them (55.5%). A direct cargo flight to East Midlands, UK, will follow soon. The two routes fill the gap in air cargo connectivity between China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and key European hubs.