TNT has officially launched its new three weekly B747-400 Extended Range Freighter (ERF) flightsbetween Shanghai Pudong International Airport and its European air hub at Liege in Belgium.
The new flights, with capacity for 105 tonnes of freight, will link TNT’s extensive networkin China covering more than 500 cities with over 400 cities in Europe. TNT expects to launch itssecond Boeing 747-400 ERF freighter in May 2007 and plans to double weekly flights to six.
“The aircraft will seamlessly link into TNT’s air and road networks in Europe,” said TNT CEOPeter Bakker. “This will provide TNT’s customers with the fastest guaranteed transit times toEurope, while having full visibility and control through TNT’s integrated IT-services, resulting inlower inventory costs and overall supply chain costs and increase of customer satisfaction.”
According to statistics from China Customs, the European Union remains China’s biggesttrading partner. Bilateral trade between China and the EU grew by 25.3% in 2006, accounting for15.5% of China’s foreign import-export trade value. The growing bilateral trade is driving rapidgrowth in demand for transportation services.
“The flight has been eagerly anticipated by TNT clients,” said Michael Drake, ManagingDirector for TNT Greater China. “Operating direct flights between Europe and China will strengthenour service capability, as we can offer our customers greater control with TNT in charge of thefull end to end process. It will also allow TNT to take advantage of the growing trade volume.”
TNT China, a business unit of TNT Express, has 25 wholly-owned operating branches andoperationally covers more than 500 cities in Mainland China. It currently employs over 2,200skilled professionals across its network and operates 3 fully-functioning international gateways inmainland China which includes Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
TNT is due to complete the acquisition of Chinese road transport group Hoau in the nearfuture to expand its Chinese network.
