DHL starts new flight linking Yangtze region with Hong Kong
DHL is starting a new dedicated flight connecting Qingdao and Hangzhou with DHL's Central Asia Hub in Hong Kong.
The move will increase the economic connectivity of the three cities and accelerate the inbound and outbound express business in Zhejiang and Shandong provinces, the company said in a statement. DHL has already started gateway operations at the Hangzhou International Airport.
Development of operations in Hangzhou will cost about $40 million, part of DHL's planned $110 million in investment in China over the next few years.
The new 10-time-weekly flight, operated by a Yangtze River Express Airlines 737-300 freighter aircraft with a payload capacity of 13 tons, marks Hangzhou Airport's first international air express cargo connection.
'The latest investments are reflective of DHL's aim to continuously boost our service offerings to meet China's strong economic growth and our customers' requirements', said Jerry Hsu, president of the greater China area, DHL Express, in a statement. 'The new dedicated Qingdao/Hangzhou/Hong Kong flight and the Hangzhou Gateway will greatly drive the economic development of the regions, and enhance our combined capability in these major logistics markets — and at the same time provide our customers with greater international connectivity.'
With the launch of the new flight and gateway and the new 24-hour clearance service provided by Hangzhou Customs, DHL-Sinotrans' customers in the Yangtze River Delta region and Shandong Province will see shorter time-to-market due to later pickup and earlier delivery times for their shipments, DHL said. The pickup cutoff time will be five hours later on average.