(Yicai) June 18 -- The first batch of rock lobsters from New Zealand have arrived at restaurants in Wuhan in only 26 hours after departure, thanks to a new direct flight route and the Chinese city's advanced low-altitude logistics distribution network.

The live rock lobsters departed from Auckland on a Cathay Pacific flight on June 16 and, after a stopover in Hong Kong, they landed at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport yesterday, where they completed customs clearance procedures at noon. Soon after, drones delivered them to restaurants across the city.

In addition to restaurants in Wuhan, the live lobsters will also be delivered to restaurants in the capital cities of four adjacent provinces through the regional logistics network of Zhuo'er International Trade, the responsible importing company.

Compared with the previous logistics model, where lobsters were transported to Wuhan by land after arriving in Shanghai or Guangzhou, the international direct flight model saves about 15 hours, an executive from Zhuo'er International Trade told Yicai.

In the future, Wuhan will introduce more high-quality fresh products from other countries through the same model by accelerating the building of a direct international fresh product express flight network, the executive noted. For example, a direct Boston lobster delivery service will be launched next month from Halifax in Canada to Wuhan's neighboring Ezhou Huahu International Airport.

Hanyang Low-Altitude Technology, which is responsible for transporting the New Zealand rock lobsters from the airport to local restaurants, has obtained approval to operate 10 new drone routes in Wuhan, forming the city's first low-altitude logistics distribution network and connecting local landmarks, businesses, cultural tourism spots, and medical nodes, General Manager Chen Wenjing told Yicai.

The comprehensive logistics time for drone distribution is about 60 percent shorter than ground logistics, greatly improving the urban short-distance distribution efficiency, creating a new, faster, and fresher consumption experience, and helping businesses reduce warehousing costs and improve overall supply chain efficiency, Chen noted.

In addition to delivering seafood, Hanyang Low-Altitude also sends flowers, pharmaceutical products, clothes, and mid-to-high-end merchandise, Chen said.

Hanyang Low-Altitude will continue to improve its local low-altitude logistics network while exploring diverse low-altitude application scenarios, including air sightseeing and emergency rescue, and expanding its business to other cities, said Yan Zhi, chairman of Hanyang Low-Altitude's parent firm Hanyang Group.

Wuhan is one of the first cities in China to offer low-altitude logistics services. Hanyang Low-Altitude's airfield, located in the city's core business district, was officially put into operation on June 16.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione