DHL increased its dedicated fl ight frequency on its overnight Hong Kong-Beijing service in response to growing demand fuelled by the robust trade between Hong Kong and mainland China. The addition of weekend fl ights to the 10-times weekly schedule represents a 25 per cent increase in capacity, it said.

DHL will use a larger Boeing B727-200F aircraft operated by Air Hong Kong – a 60:40 joint venture between Cathay Pacifi c and DHL, giving customers nearly a 58 per cent increase in payload.

Dan McHugh, acting CEO of DHL Express, Asia-Pacifi c, said: "We foresee sustained cargo volume growth, as Hong Kong and mainland China become more intricately linked as an integrated supply chain due to deepening economic integration."

DHL’s Asia Air Network, currently comprises more than thirty destinations in sixteen countries and territories, is served by more than twenty aircraft in dedicated air operations.