DHL wet leases three B777Fs from Southern Air

DHL Express and Southern Air have signed a new multi-year agreement, adding three new Boeing 777 Freighters to the DHL fleet as it aims to expand its capacity and boost transit times along key growing trade routes between the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. The first B777F, which began service on 15 August will connect DHL hubs in Cincinnati (CVG), Bahrain (BAH) and Hong Kong (HK), moving around the world with each operation. DHL already has eight other B777Fs in its fleet including those operated via its Aerologic joint venture with Lufthansa Cargo. Charlie Dobbie, EVP Global Network Operations DHL Express said: “The agreement with Southern Air is another important building block to further upgrade our international air express network. With this additional new round the world service, our customers have the benefit of later pickup times for next day deliveries in the US, Canada and wider areas in the Americas region. Additionally, for the express services from Canada, Latin America and USA provided through our hub in Cincinnati to the Middle East via Bahrain, we are able to shorten transit times considerably, by as much as one full day. This is a significant advantage for our customers from the oil and gas, technology and communications industries.” “This new flight’s intercontinental route from Hong Kong to the US gives DHL customers later pickup times out of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta and next-day delivery into the US, Canada and much of the Americas region,” said Jerry Hsu, Regional CEO for DHL Asia Pacific. “Continuing on to Bahrain from the US hub shortens delivery times by as much as one full day for shipments from Canada, the US and Latin America to much of the Middle East. That’s a key benefit for exporters in the oil and gas, technology, and communications industries as well as the US Government,” added Stephen Fenwick, regional CEO for DHL Express Americas. Under the new agreement, Southern Air will operate three B777 Freighters on behalf of DHL Express. The B777 Freighter that has begun service for DHL Express is one of two B777Fs that Southern Air currently flies. Southern Air expects to take delivery of an additional two B777Fs earmarked for use by DHL Express in March-April 2012 and then introduce them into the DHL network. Southern Air is looking to add more B777Fs to its fleet along with four B747- 400s by Q1 2012, joining its current fleet of 11 B747-200s.