DHL boosts intercontinental service with new round-the-world flight

• Market-leading, next-day service linking HK, Los Angeles and Leipzig available from more Asian markets to US
• Enhanced service offering for Western US and Canada – Europe route
• Additional capacity in DHL global air fleet to meet growing customer demand on key intercontinental trade lanes

DHL, the international specialist, last week announced significant enhancements to its intercontinental delivery capabilities, effective 27 March.

The launch of a new, additional round-the-world flight connecting Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Leipzig will create a unique service proposition on key trade lanes between Asia and Western US and Canada.

The transit time capability between Asia and Western US and Canada will be market-leading, with a greater number of Asian origin locations, including key trade hubs Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila and a significant number of cities throughout China benefiting from next-day connection into Los Angeles and much of Western US and Canada. This represents the first time that customers in many Asian cities will be able to enjoy a one-day express delivery service with any carrier on this important intercontinental lane.

Thanks to a new onward connection from Los Angeles direct to DHL’s European air hub in Leipzig, Germany, customers in Western US and Canadian cities including Los Angeles, Calgary, Edmonton, Phoenix, Portland, Reno, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver will be able to order a pick-up from a DHL courier up to 3 hours later for their European shipments.

Capacity and service reliability on this new route will be enhanced by the introduction of three Boeing 777F freighters, operated by Southern Air. DHL announced in September 2011 that it had signed a multi-year agreement with Southern Air Holding Inc. to operate B777F freighters on intercontinental routes connecting the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. The first of these round-the-world routes – from Hong Kong to the Express hub in Cincinnati to Bahrain and back to Hong Kong – is already in operation. The additional freighters will bring the total number of B777F freighters in DHL’s global fleet to 12.

“The introduction of this new round-the-world flight by DHL, The International Specialists, will bring unrivalled benefits to our customers in all sectors in Asia, Europe  the US and Canada, and deliver reduced transit times on some of the world’s most important trade lanes,” said DHL Express CEO Ken Allen. “The additional capacity, range and reliability of the Boeing 777F freighters, as well as the increased fuel efficiency they bring to our fleet, will complement the significant investments we have already made in our global network over the last year and reinforce DHL’s leading position in international time definite delivery.”

DHL Express Asia Pacific CEO Jerry Hsu said, “Over the past decade, DHL has consistently invested in Asia Pacific to build network infrastructure and capability to serve our customers better.  Our new round-the-world capability from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, Leipzig and back offers customers in China and in key trade hubs across Asia Pacific, next-day connections into Western US and Canada, an unparalleled service in the industry.”

DHL Express Asia Pacific Executive Vice President, Network Operations and Aviation Chris Bresnahan said, “In Asia Pacific, DHL utilises more than 690 commercial flights daily as well as over 40 dedicated regional and inter-continental aircraft to provide our customers with the capacity and flexibility that global business demands. Strategic partnerships such as the one with Southern Air further boost our global aviation capability by enhancing service reliability and increased efficiency.”

The B777F freighter is expected to burn around 20 to 25 per cent less fuel and has a superior max payload range on intercontinental routes, allowing more markets to be served non-stop. The continued upgrade to more efficient aircraft is in keeping with DHL’s commitment to increase its carbon efficiency by 30 per cent in 2020.