DHL Express, the world’s leading international express services provider, has deployed its first ever Airbus A330-300 in its air network, servicing the fast-growing markets of Malaysia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong with 33% more freight capacity per flight. The aircraft is the first of four A330-300s to join the DHL Express fleet under a new passenger-to-freighter (P2F) deal with Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), a joint venture between Airbus and Singapore Technologies Aerospace, flying six times a week.

 

With a gross payload of 61 metric tons, the A330-300 will provide additional high-volume, lowerdensity capacity in Asia Pacific, catering specifically to regional e-commerce activity which, in 2017, accounted for 40% of global e-commerce sales. Following its conversion from passenger to freight use, the A330-300s feature a range of upgrades including reinforcements to its fuselage, floor structure, and door frame shell; newly-installed safety barrier nets; and a powered cargo loading system.

 

The first A330-300 will serve markets with particularly high e-commerce trade volumes, including Malaysia with a compound annual growth rate of nearly 18% from now to 2022;3 and Vietnam, where the local e-commerce market is growing at 35% per annum. Subsequent A330- 300s slated for deployment later this year will also focus on intra-Asia connections as the region’s middle-class – and its consumption rates – continues to expand.

 

The A330-300 deployments form the latest stage of DHL Express’ ongoing investments in its air
freight infrastructure, with future planned deployments of the A330-300s aiming to increase
payload capacity by up to 50% compared to current aircraft. “As a pioneer in P2F aircraft
conversions since 1997, DHL continually looks to bolster the strength of its dedicated air
network in Asia Pacific with a combination of new investments and design innovation,” Wall
said. “As our maiden A330-300 cargo service arrives in our high-traffic Penang Gateway, we
expect many more such services to transform our Asia Pacific network in the near future.”