DHL invests €100m in Asia Pacific air network enhancements

DHL is investing €100 million with the addition of three Boeing 747-400 Converted Freighters (BCFs) to its Asia Air Network.

Operated by Air Hong Kong, a joint venture between Cathay Pacific and DHL, the three B747-400 BCFs with a payload of 100 tonnes each will service three high capacity routes six days a week: Tokyo – Hong Kong, Singapore – Hong Kong, and Shanghai – Hong Kong. Currently, two A300-600 General Freighters (GFs), each with a 45-tonne payload, operate on direct routes between Tokyo – Hong Kong and Shanghai – Hong Kong.

By September 2011, these two A300-600GFs will be redeployed on five weekly services between Beijing – Hong Kong and Manila – Hong Kong, replacing two 24-tonne B727-200Fs planes that will be retired. The investment in the Air Network follows DHL’s recent announcement of an additional daily intercontinental route from Hong Kong to Cincinnati.