DHL has further boosted its Asia network by more than doubling uplift capacity on the route betweenits regional hub at Hong Kong and Nagoya, Japan.
A new Airbus A300-600F freighter, operated by Air Hong Kong, replaces its existing A330-200passenger aircraft service, increases belly capacity to 45 tons from 25, and offers more than twicecurrent processing capacity.
“Over the last 12 months, we have been actively strengthening DHL’s Asia Air Network with newflights, more direct connections, technology upgrades and strategic partnerships,” said Ross Allen,senior vice president (aviation) for DHL Express Asia Pacific. “The Hong Kong-Nagoya route has beenexperiencing steady growth in volumes since its launch last year.”
Its Asia network currently comprises 30 destinations, served by over 20 aircraft in dedicatedair operations, linking major Asia Pacific cities with DHL’s regional hubs to provide clients withovernight services across the region.
The improved ten times weekly service was due to begin operating on Monday and marks furtherinvestment by DHL across Asia-Pacific, following the purchase of 49% of US-based Polar Air earlierthis month and the strengthening of its partnership with Malaysia-based air cargo carrier Transmilein June.
The new freighter completes the original order of eight A300-600F planes that DHL placedtogether with Air Hong Kong, in which the express carrier has a 40% stake. The freighters come witha special loading system, and a side door capable of handling large items of general freight inaddition to small packages.
