DHL expands Asia coverage

   DHL said Tuesday that it has expanded its Asia coverage by offering two new direct flights from its hub in Hong Kong to Chengdu, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
   The express company’s new Hong Kong-to-Chengdu route will provide evening pickup and next-day delivery for shipments to Chengdu and other areas in southwestern China, such as Chongqing, Kunming and Guiyang.
   This route is operated in cooperation with Yangtze River Express Ltd., a Chinese all-cargo airline, via a Boeing 737-300 freighter flying
five times per week.
   An additional direct flight was launched earlier this year, which connects Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City. The introduction of five B727 freighter flights per week, each with a payload of 22 tons, is operated by DHL’s joint venture partner airline, Air Hong Kong.
   The new direct flight, which replaces the existing flight transiting in Bangkok, improves inbound and outbound service by shortening the transit time from Vietnam to the United States and Europe, and vice versa, by two hours. “As a result, customers will now have extra time to package their goods before sending them abroad at latest courier pickup at 22:00 for next day delivery,” DHL said.
   “The launch of these new routes is a direct response to the rising demands for express services from China and Vietnam to Hong Kong as well as other parts of the world, and vice versa,” said Ken Lee, managing director for DHL Express Hong Kong, in a statement.
   “As the only international express company to operate a standalone express cargo facility, DHL Central Asia Hub (CAH), in Hong Kong International Airport, DHL always sees Hong Kong as a major channel to connect Asian cities within the region, and across the world,” he said.