BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- SF Airlines, the aviation branch of China's express giant SF Express, on Tuesday opened a new direct all-cargo air route linking Shenzhen, in south China's Guangdong Province, with Singapore.

The new cargo route will be operated by B767-300 cargo freighters, representing the company's latest step in expanding its international route network and enhancing its global presence, according to SF Airlines.

It came soon after the airline opened a direct cargo route between Shenzhen and Chennai, in southern India, on August 5.

"The opening of new international cargo routes shows our capacity to quickly respond to market demand and serve our customers with a competitive network," said Liang Xi, SF Airlines' vice president of maintenance and engineering.

To date, Shenzhen-based SF Airlines has the country's largest all-freighter fleet with 47 aircraft.

The cargo airline focuses on providing air express and customized air freight services for SF Express. It has transported around 2 million tonnes of cargo since its launch in 2009.

China has seen a surging air express industry. In 2017, the country transported 7.06 million tonnes of airmail cargo, a 5.6 percent increase year on year, said statistics from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).