CATA puts four logistics firms on no-fly list

China Air Transport Association (CATA) on Monday announced its decision to put four domestic logistics firms on its no-fly list due to security flaws.

A fire started in a storage bin of flight CZ6524 on Oct. 22 after the plane landed at Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport due to the spontaneous combustion of inflammable materials belonging to logistics firms, according to the CATA announcement posted on its official website on Monday.

Courier firms Shanghai YTO, Yunda Express, Huixing and Qihang will have to suspend their airfreight services until their business procedures improve, said CATA, an association that calls most Chinese airlines members.

According to relevant industrial rules, "all member carriers of the association should refuse to transport cargo for the four couriers during the suspension," said the announcement.

Shanghai YTO was to blame for its incorrect classification of lithium batteries, while the other logistics firms were punished for transporting the prohibited article vesuvian, which caused the fire, according to CATA.

In an online statement Sunday, Shanghai YTO admitted negligence in security checks concerning its cargo transported on flight CZ6524, claiming that the efficiency of its express deliveries will not be affected.