As of July 2026, Ezhou Huahu International Airport, operational for four years, had established itself as Asia's first dedicated cargo hub with 122 freight routes. This strategic development is pivotal in supporting Hubei's ambition to become a key economic stronghold in Central China's rise.

The airport's cargo network is expanding across the Wuhan metropolitan area and all of Hubei province. For many foreign trade companies in Wuhan, "Ship in the morning from Optics Valley of China (OVC), and it's on a Huahu cargo flight by the afternoon" has become an everyday reality.

In August 2025, the inaugural flight of the "Wuhan-Ezhou" low-altitude cargo route was launched, reducing travel time to just 30 minutes. The Optics Valley Super Logistics Center began operations around the same time, enabling seamless air freight import and export processes right at the doorstep of local businesses.

Behind this efficiency is the airport's pioneering "three-in-one" inspection system, combining customs, security, and civil aviation checks into a single process. This innovation has slashed clearance times from eight minutes to just three, and international transfer times to under five hours.

According to Ezhou Customs officials, Huahu International Airport's swift five-hour international transfer capabilities make it a leader not just domestically but also internationally. This efficiency attracts a high volume of international cargo.

In 2025, with a cargo throughput growth rate of 32.4 percent, Huahu International Airport claimed the title of the fastest-growing global cargo hub, transforming Hubei from an inland region into a frontier of opening-up and connectivity in the global industrial chain.