DHL Global Forwarding is deploying a second dedicated Boeing 747-400 freighter to connect the U.S., Europe, and Asia and take advantage of rising demand for air freight, chiefly for outbound services ex Asia and on the conventional transpacific route.
In addition to the first around-the-world air cargo service established in September 2017, this second Boeing 747F will be operating a network which includes the United States, South Korea, China, and Germany, said the company, the air and ocean freight unit of Deutsche Post DHL Group.
“Demand is currently exceeding supply mainly due to the large economies performing strongly. On major trade lanes volumes are high, but capacities are low, a trend that will continue. To increase our operational efficiency and to offer our customers the best-possible solution, we thus decided to create further capacities we have direct control over,” explained Tim Scharwath, CEO DHL Global Forwarding.
With a capacity of up to 100 tons per flight, the aircraft provides significant and reliable freight space on the transpacific route from Shanghai Pudong Airport to Cincinnati, USA from where it returns to Incheon, South Korea.
Afterwards it will connect Korea to Wuxi, China continuing to Frankfurt-Hahn in Germany, going back to Shanghai-Pudong Airport. With the re-routing of the first service to Wuxi Airport as well, DHL Global Forwarding will offer twice weekly departures from Wuxi to Frankfurt-Hahn.
The increasing demand for air freight capacities on Asian routes is fueled by all major industries, the company said.
“Specifically China’s electronics, electric motors, electrical and mechanical appliances as well as medical equipment companies are bolstering demand. The Middle Kingdom’s main export destinations are South Korea and Germany which are served by the new charter as well. But due to well-preforming global trade volumes are also increasing from the US and Europe,” said DHL.
“The gap between the well-performing world trade with a high demand for cargo space on the one hand, and at the same time a difficult capacity situation on the other side, has encouraged us in our decision to further deploy self-controlled capacity to the market,” said Scharwath.
The cargo aircraft has been leased from Atlas Air through an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance agreement.
Photo: Kevin.B
