DHL adds ABX airlift

DHL adds ABX airlift ABX Air said Wednesday that it will commit two 767-200 freighters to provide exclusive airlift for DHL's domestic U.S. package network in 2008. One of the planes will serve DHL through June with an option to extend the term, while the second plane will haul for DHL the entire year.
   Wilmington, Ohio-based ABX already flies 29 of the planes under a fixed fee plus cost-contract with DHL.
   The extra business comes after ABX last month cited DHL's payment default for dedicated air cargo delivery and ground hub services as a contributing factor for late filing of its financial statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
      Last summer, ABX rejected an offer from Astar Air Cargo to buy the company. DHL acquired nearly half of Astar, which also provides dedicated aircraft lease and overnight carriage to DHL, to gain better control over its air network.
      ABX has been limited so far in its ability to expand its customer base beyond DHL.