APL has launched its Aloha Express service, a new fortnightly connection between central China, South Korea, Japan and Hawaii.

According to APL, it has opened a fully owned and staffed office with local expertise in Honolulu, and has dedicated the 990 TEU APL Aloha to the AEX service. A total of three APL-operated vessels will be deployed on the service.

“The AEX service introduces a new sea route in our portfolio to directly serve Asia and Hawaii,” said Jesper Stenbak, senior vice president of the trans-Pacific trade at APL. “Instead of routing via the US mainland, shippers with Hawaiian-bound cargo will find a faster shipping alternative in the AEX service. To optimally coincide with market activities in the U.S. state, shipments on board the AEX service are scheduled for Sunday arrival in Hawaii for early-week cargo availability.”

The AEX service will serve the ports of Shanghai, Busan, Yokohama and Honolulu, with transit times to Honolulu of 19 days from Shanghai, 15 days from Busan and 12 days from Yokohama.

“The AEX service further diversifies APL’s extensive market coverage in the trans-Pacific trade,” said Stenbak. “Currently, APL sees 14 services making 104 calls at 35 ports between the key markets across Asia and North America West Coast; as well as eight services making 79 calls at 36 ports between Asia and North America East Coast each week.”

The first sailing will depart from Shanghai on July 25, 2017 and arrive in Honolulu on August 13, 2017, according to APL.