DHL Express is making minor tweaks to its air network in Asia Pacific to meet the ecommerce boom that has spread across the region, particularly in Vietnam and Malaysia. The express service provider will now operate direct flights to Penang (PEN) from its central Asian hub in Hong Kong (HGK), replacing the previous route connected via Ho Chi Minh (SGN).

It will deploy its A300 for the Penang route five times a week and dedicate another A330 to serve SGN six times weekly. DHL said the dedicated flights aims to shorten the transit time to and fro the two main cities and add more capacity.

“Plying a Ho Chi Minh City-Hong Kong route, the A330 aircraft will offer an air cargo load of up to 62 tons per flight, carrying shipments such as fashion apparel, garments accessories and materials, and electronics. An A300 with 54 tons of capacity will be dedicated to serve Penang where electronic components and parts make up the bulk of goods flown,” the company noted.

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The express operator is expecting more outbound shipments coming from Vietnam and announced the upgrade of the B737-40 shuttling between Hanoi and Hong Kong to B737-800.

Chief executive Ken Lee and his team in Asia Pacific are taking findings from the company’s recent white paper, which mentioned a shift in expectations about ecommerce: “customers want top quality service, speed, reliability, convenience and flexibility.”

“By dedicating flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Penang, and upgrading our aircraft for Hanoi, our customers in these markets will continue to enjoy the quality service that they have come to expect from us as we seek to deliver their shipments within a day,” Lee added.