DHL is investing €100 million in buying three additional B747 freighters for its Asia Air Network,in response to rapidly growing demand for air express capacity between China, Japan, and Singapore.
The three B747-400 Boeing converted freighters (BCFs), with a payload of 100 tonnes each,will be operated by Air Hong Kong, a joint venture between Cathay Pacific and DHL, and will servicethree high-capacity routes six days a week: Tokyo-Hong Kong, Singapore-Hong Kong, Shanghai-HongKong.
Currently, its Tokyo-Hong Kong and Shanghai-Hong Kong routes are served using two A300-600general freighters (GFs), each with a 45-tonne payload. By September 2011, these two A300-600GFswill be redeployed to operate five weekly services between Hong Kong and Beijing and between HongKong and Manila, replacing two 24-tonne B727-200 freighters, which will be retired.
Jerry Hsu, the recently appointed CEO of DHL Express Asia Pacific, said: “The €100 millioninvestment in three B747-400 BCFs increases our capacity, connectivity and service reliability. Itis a significant step up for DHL’s Asia Air Network, one we’re confident of because we have aclear, market-driven approach to our business. By being close to our customers, understanding whatthey need, recognizing the opportunities and being prepared to make strategic investments, that’show we’ll continue to grow our market share and deliver best-in-class services for our industry.”
The investment in the Asia Air Network comes on the back of the company’s recent announcementof an additional daily intercontinental route from Hong Kong to Cincinnati, as a direct response toincreasing demands for services from South China and Hong Kong to North America. Through this,customers will be able to have a later pickup time out of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, andovernight service to North America.
The company is also on track to open its US$175million (€120 million) North Asia Hub in early2012. Situated at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the 57,000 sqm hub will be built on atotal land area of 88,000 sqm, equipped with leading-edge automated sorting systems.
“We continue to see significant potential in Asia Pacific,” said Hsu. “ We have beenoperating in the region for over 40 years, having pioneered the international express industryacross many cities. With significant infrastructural assets and our continued investment, weconstantly raise the bar to become the provider of choice to our customers.”
