A SWOT analysis of China's air cargo sector in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.

This paper discusses the situation of China's air cargo sector facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the expectation that it can go out of recession more easily than China's air passenger sector, this paper analyzes four aspects that are favorable and unfavorable for its further development: (1) strengths (China's sustainable economic basis and proliferating cargo suppliers), (2) weaknesses (insufficient cargo capacity and less business internationalization), (3) opportunities (top authority support, rising e-commerce demand, and new technological momentum), and (4) challenges (uncertain trade environment and increasing profitability pressure). Then this paper suggests strategies for China's air cargo suppliers to adapt to the pandemic. • China's restrictive measures in air transport will persist for a long time. • China's air cargo sector has suffered a less severe depression than air passenger traffic. • The COVID-19 pandemic unveiled Chinese airlines' deficiency in cargo capacity. • The development of e-commerce promotes growing demand for air cargo in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]