DHL Express has unveiled a larger freighter for the trans-Tasman trade lane between Auckland and Sydney to fly rising volumes between New Zealand and Australia.
The dedicated DHL Express freighter will offer five overnight delivery services from Auckland to Sydney weekly from Mondays to Thursdays, and on Saturdays. With 67% more freight capacity per flight from the previous B757F, DHL Express is able to better support Kiwi businesses operating in and out of New Zealand.
With a capacity of up to 55 tonnes per flight, the aircraft provides substantial freight space on the trans-Tasman route between Auckland to Sydney. With more than 483 cubic meter of cargo space available, the Boeing 767-300 can carry 22 tonnes more than the B757 freighter.
Mark Foy, country manager, DHL Express New Zealand, said: "This freighter allows DHL to provide even greater support to businesses trading across the Tasman. As an international express logistics provider, we are committed to helping Kiwi businesses navigate international trade."
Export volume between New Zealand and Australia has seen a steady growth – it recorded a 40% year-on-year growth increase between May 2017 and May 2018, within the DHL Express network.
“The increased freight capacity will be able to handle further volume growth, as innovative Kiwi businesses continue to tap into the trans-Tasman marketplace and reach Australian customers like never before," said Foy.
The introduction of the 767-300 freighter marks a significant step forward in enhancing DHL’s service standards to match the evolving needs of Kiwi businesses tapping into international growth in the Australian market. New Zealand exporters can expect to have their goods in Australia overnight, to better compete with Australian companies. The increasing demand for air freight capabilities in the DHL Express network across the Tasman is fuelled by growth in industries such as electronics, agricultural, fashion, engineering, manufacturing and e-commerce, with e-commerce shipments to Australia growing at a staggering 46%.
The positive development of trans-Tasman trade is clearly shown by the ExportNZ DHL Export Barometer. In 2017, results showed that trans-Tasman trade continues to dominate exports with almost 80% of exporters trading with Australia, securing its position as New Zealand’s top trading partner. These results also coincided with the latest Goods and Service trade report that indicated that Australia is a top export destination, as at March 2018.
The Boeing 767-300 freighter plane is part of the company’s global investment to bolster network connectivity, following the expansion of the Auckland Airport Gateway facility in 2016.
