FedEx Express has further enhanced its overnight services between Asia and Europe with theintroduction of a new next-business-day service connecting mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore
with France and Germany, as economic prospects start to improve.The service enhancement will provide a one-business-day transit time to Europe for FedExInternational Priority shipments that originate from Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore destined forFrankfurt, Cologne and Paris, from Monday to Thursday, the company announced. Flight operationaldetails were not disclosed.
“Over the past decade, Europe has been a key export market for many of the region’sbusinesses that have been behind Asia’s emergence as an economic powerhouse,” said David L.Cunningham Jr., president, Asia Pacific, FedEx Express. “A revived European economy will pushdemand for exports from Asia, especially Chinese goods, and FedEx is committed to facilitating thisimportant connection. Today’s launch of the new Asia-to-Europe service reflects our continuedconfidence in supporting this trade lane by providing businesses in Asia with more efficient accessto markets in Europe and opening doors for new business opportunities.”
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, grew at an annualised pace of 1.3% in the second quarterof 2009, while France, the region’s second-largest economy, expanded at an annualised rate of 1.4%,FedEx Express noted. Trade between Asia and Europe has continued to grow, with EU imports fromChina increasing by 6.5% in 2008 while the EU now the largest trading partner for Singapore.Looking further ahead, the Asia-to- Europe air cargo market expected to expand at an average annualrate of 6.5% in the next two decades.
The service enhancement is a part of an ongoing focus by FedEx to strengthen its connectionbetween Asia and Europe for customers. Enhancements by FedEx for the Asia-Europe segment includethe launch of the express air cargo industry’s first express direct flight from mainland China toEurope in March 2005, and doubling the capacity between Europe and Asia during the launch of afirst overnight express daily flight between India and China in September 2005. In February 2009,FedEx opened its Asia Pacific hub in Guangzhou, which represents its long-term commitment toproviding better services and access to businesses in Asia, by connecting the region with Europevia its Euro One network.
