DHL Japan has introduced a new route connecting Japan to the United States on June 26 as the company responds to growing demand for trade between Asia and the US.

The company already has a B747F flying five times each week operated by Polar Air and a B777F flying the same number of weekly flights operated by Kalitta Air. The express operator will now add three roundtrip flights and deploy a Boeing 777F freighter, operated by DHL Air UK, on top of the regular weekly schedule, with plans to increase to six.

DHL Air UK, making its debut in Asia, said the new route (Hong Kong-Central-Cincinnati-East Midlands, UK) marks the first step in expanding intercontinental flights connecting Europe, the US and Asia.