New York air cargo carrier Atlas Air has started a new charter freight service from Qingdao to New orleans, which is Qingdao's first transcontinental direct flight, Logistics Week reported.

The new service offers two flights, carrying a total of 160 tonnes of freight, using Boeing 747-200 aircraft.

Qingdao is also in talks with Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa and China Southern Airlines on launching the first scheduled transcontinental service by the end of this year or early next year.