CHENGDU - A direct cargo flight has been launched between Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Frankfurt, Germany.

The route, launched on Sunday, is operated by German airline Lufthansa, and will offer a trip every Tuesday and Sunday.

The direct route will help meet rising air cargo needs boosted by booming cross-border e-commerce, according to local logistics authorities.

The annual cargo throughput at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport rose 5.1 percent to about 643,000 tonnes in 2017, ranking first among airports in Central and West China.