DHL, the world’s leading cross-border express services provider has announced the launch of a new intra-Asia air route which connects the key economies of Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong with flights through big cities such as Hanoi, Bangkok and Hong Kong, radio The Voice of Vietnam reported.

A DHL aircraft.

The new air route will utilize a newly converted Boeing B737-400SF freighter featuring a gross payload of 21 tonnes and will be operated by K-Mile Air of Thailand, a partner of DHL with five flights per week.

The new route will shorten the transit time for intra-Asia shipments to and from Hanoi to one day and help reduce congestion faced by DHL’s bustling hub in Hong Kong.

VOV quoted George Berczely, General Director of DHL-VNPT Express Ltd. in Vietnam, as saying that his company will continue to invest to maintain its leading position in the express service market in Vietnam and promote economic development in the northern Vietnam.

Along with the opening of the new route, DHL also upgraded the air route Penang-Hong Kong-Ho Chi Minh City on November 7 from five to six days per week, which has contributed to increasing the capacity to handle the volume of shipments to 20 percent on this route.

The increase in the number of A300-600F aircrafts is part of DHL’s intra-Asia dedicated network which enables customers from Penang and Ho Chi Minh City to have requested Saturday delivery services to and from Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, and Bangkok.

In September, DHL unveiled its biggest investment of 10 million USD in Vietnam with the opening of a 2,500sq.m service centre in HCM City.

Source: VNA