1953 saw the founding of China Land Transportation Company, the predecessor of China Foreign Trade (Group) Company. Since then, this company has launched her own air freight and mail delivery services, which ushered in the beginning of air freight forwarding business in China. China Foreign Trade (Group) Company established the Beijing Air Cargo Station, which officially started her business on May 1981. In 1987, China Air Transportation Forwarding Co., Ltd. was set up under the approval of Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Since China adopted the Reform and Opening-up policy, Sinotrans has made an outstanding breakthrough in air transport service from 1990's. Sinotrans has established joint ventures in succession by cooperating with 4 internationally renowned express companies. From 1997 to 1999, Sinotrans formed 6 regional companies in the north, east, northeast, southwest, northwest and south of China. In the same year, Sinotrans Air Transportation Development Co., Ltd was in business, which was successfully listed on Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2000. The stock code is 600270, with an abbreviation name of "Sinoair". Sinoair is the first listed company in the domestic air freight forwarding industry.