DHL Express is to upgrade its European air fleet over the next two years, replacing its agingAirbus A300B4-200 freighters with larger and more fuel-efficient A300-600 cargo planes.
The company has acquired thirteen A300-600 passenger aircraft, which will be converted tofreighter configuration by EADS Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Dresden, Germany. The new aircraft will befully integrated into the European fleet by early 2013, as the A300B4s approach retirement age.
Bryan Jamison, MD of network operations in Europe at DHL Express, said: “By introducing thisaircraft now we can ensure continuously high reliability and on-time performance for the years tocome, while we are also able to take a big leap ahead towards our goal of reducing our carbonemissions by 30% by 2020. The A300-600 is a very attractive mid-range aircraft and the perfect fitfor our European air network.”
DHL said the A300-600 offered “completely new and modern technology” compared to itspredecessor. With around 49 tonnes payload, it can carry up to five tonnes more than theA300B4-200, with a 900-kilometere longer range and up to 20% lower fuel consumption.
The aircraft also has similar external dimensions and the same cross section and main-deck cargodoor as its predecessor, meaning staff can keep the current handling procedures and will notrequire additional training. The first A300-600 is scheduled to enter the conversion line earlynext month, with arrival at DHL’s Leipzig Hub planned for October.
DHL said the moves were part of its continuous efforts to strengthen and expand its globalnetwork. It currently serves 85 airports across Europe with 92 aircraft, claiming to provide thecontinent’s most extensive air express connectivity. Globally, the company connects more than 500airports with a fleet of 250 dedicated aircraft.
A spokesman told CEP-Research that the decision was primarily about replacing the older A300s,and that the increase in capacity and range was an added bonus. The incoming aircraft were built inthe early to mid-1990s, while those they are replacing are 10-15 years older.
“There may be some reconfiguration of the network, because of the aircraft’s greatercapabilities, but those are issues that our network team looks at on a regular basis,” he said.
He said the company was not disclosing at this time the level of the investment, but that it hadchosen to buy rather than lease the aircraft because of the terms it had been offered by thefinancial institution that owned the aircraft.
The A300s are the largest freighters within DHL’s European fleet, which also includes B757aircraft and a number of smaller turboprop aircraft. These are operated by its DHL Airways, EAT,and ACL subsidiaries, and by third-party partners. It also operates B767 and B777 aircraft onintercontinental routes between Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.
