DHL, NORTHWEST WILL LAUNCH DIRECT SERVICE TO ASIA

DHL, NORTHWEST WILL LAUNCH DIRECT SERVICE TO ASIA    DHL Worldwide Express and Northwest Airlines Cargo said they have formed an alliance to offer small-package air delivery services between North America and Asia, beginning in July.
   Under a multiyear agreement, Northwest will launch freighter service to Asia from Cincinnati, DHL's primary U.S. hub, using two Boeing 747 freighters. DHL will have priority access to block space on those flights. The NWA freighters will depart from Asia Monday through Friday, arriving the same day in Cincinnati at 11:30 p.m. The aircraft will turn and depart for Asia Tuesday through Saturday at 5 a.m. for next day arrival.
   DHL will utilize its Cincinnati hub to provide customers east of Denver with expedited service to Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul.
   The DHL-Northwest alliance, long rumored to be in development, comes after DHL was awarded the right to act as an international U.S. freight forwarder, separate from the U.S.-based DHL Airways airline unit. The parent company of DHL's U.S. subsidiaries is fully owned and controlled by Deutsche Post AG, the Germany-based logistics company.