Robust intra-Asian volumes have led DHL to increase capacity between Hong Kong and Singapore, which it serves through Air Hong Kong, a joint venture between Cathay Pacific and DHL.

A 110-tonne capacity Boeing 747- 400F will replace the current 45 tonne capacity A300-600F, and will operate between both cities six days a week, more than doubling capacity on the SIN-HKG route, a vital link for Intra-Asia trade, DHL said.

“The Boeing 747-400F service will link DHL’s Central Asia Hub in Hong Kong, and the DHL Express Singapore Hub, two vital hubs which service the robust Intra- Asia trade lane which constitutes over 50 per cent of DHL’s Asia volumes,” said Stephen Fenwick, senior vice president, Operations, DHL Express Asia Pacific.

This latest move represents a second increase in capacity after air capacity for flights between Hong Kong and Nagoya, Taipei, Seoul and Singapore operated by Air Hong Kong, was increased in the fourth quarter of 2008 to six times per week, up from five times a week, representing a 20 per cent increase in capacity for each of these four cities.

“DHL’s intra-Asia air express freight business has grown over 11 per cent year-on-year between 2003 and 2008, with shipments along the Singapore – Hong Kong route comprising 30 per cent of total intra-Asia shipment volume,” said Dan McHugh, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific.