DHL Express has marked a significant milestone in its Asia Pacific network operations with the completion of a seven-year re-fleeting program with Air Hong Kong (AHK), the first all-cargo freighter airline based in Hong Kong and a part of the Cathay Group.

It announced that with the arrival of its newer A330 freighter and the retirement of its last A300-600 freighter, Air Hong Kong has now transitioned into an all-Airbus A330 freighter airline, marking a new phase in its nearly 40-year history.

DHL Express will now have a newer and modern fleet of A330 freighters operated and maintained by its partner in the region, Air Hong Kong.

Air Hong Kong first began operating the A300-600F on behalf of DHL Express in 2004 and has served DHL Express's Asia Pacific network for the past two decades.

DHL noted that this has played a crucial role in providing reliable intercontinental delivery services and contributed to consolidating Hong Kong's position as an international aviation hub. The fleet has also successfully transported close to three million tons of express cargo over the years.

"Balancing our customers and operational needs has always been top of mind for us. Our decision to re-fleet aircraft years ago reflects our foresight to invest in ourselves so that we are ever-ready to support our customers," said Peter Bardens, senior vice president for Network Operations & Aviation – Asia Pacific, DHL Express.

"The A300-600F was instrumental to our robust aviation network for many years. As we bid farewell to this valued member of our fleet, we are excited to welcome a new chapter with this new generation of freighters. We are confident that we will continue to deliver excellence in both our service capabilities and sustainability targets," he added.

Compared with the A300-600F, the newer A330F provides 25% more payload and volume, enabling more cargo to be carried, in particular e-commerce shipments.

It also has a longer range capability of 7,400 kilometres, which will help Air Hong Kong continue to grow and has already enabled the airline to expand to new destinations, including Bahrain and Sydney. Meanwhile, its increased fuel efficiency and reduced noise levels will help contribute to wider sustainability goals.

"The A300-600F has been a stalwart of Air Hong Kong's fleet and an important part of our story for over two decades. Its contribution to not only our business, but to the Hong Kong international aviation hub as a whole, has been considerable, and we fondly bid farewell to this valued member of our fleet as we enter this exciting new chapter," said Clarence Tai, chief operating officer at Air Hong Kong.

"The new-generation A330F brings with it considerable benefits that will enable us to further enhance our operations and services for our customers, and continue to play an important role in the ongoing growth of Hong Kong's air cargo sector. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, the Cathay Group, our people, our suppliers, and our key customer, DHL, for their firm support, which has made this re-fleeting plan possible."

Air Hong Kong is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited. Its network has been fundamental to the DHL Express network in Asia Pacific.

Air Hong Kong's re-fleeting programme began seven years ago, starting with the introduction of its first wet-leased A330F in February 2018.