The Qantas Group announced today that it had acquired 100 per cent of the Asia-based express freight operator,DPEX Worldwide.

Qantas Executive General Manager Freight Enterprises Grant Fenn said the investment in DPEX, whose worldwide network included 18 countries across Asia, represented an important development for Qantas FreightEnterprises.

"The DPEX Worldwide acquisition will provide us with an exciting opportunity to enter the Asian express market and significantly expand our footprint in the region," he said.

"This is a high-growth market that complements Qantas’ focus on Asian air freight and our Australian express operations and provides a great building block for expansion and growth." Mr Fenn said that the purchase of DPEX Worldwide followed the successful acquisition of 37.5 per cent of the DPEX franchisee in China on 30 May 2007.

He said that the CEO of DPEX Worldwide, Mr Donald Tay would continue to lead the business.