DHL Express has introduced a dedicated flight between Hong Kong and Sydney, Australia, to accommodate the rising shipment volume between the two countries.
The new direct flight service — which replaces the current Hong Kong-Singapore-Sydney route — departs from DHL's Central Asia Hub in Hong Kong. The dedicated flight leaves for Sydney Airport five times a week.
Supplied by Kalitta Air, the Boeing 777-200 is wet-leased to Tasman Cargo Airlines, which operates the flight.
DHL said the freighter has a maximum capacity of 105 tons, which increases customers' weekly total payload by over 500 tons.
Increased Australia-North Asia trade demand
DHL cited its recent Global Connectedness Report 2024, which reveals that Australia has firm connections with North Asia countries, where China, India, Japan, and South Korea are among their top 10 global connections.
Additionally, it found that at least 70% of the countries in Asia Pacific are closely connected with their Asian counterparts, including Australia and Hong Kong.
To tackle these increasing demands of intra-Asia trade, the dedicated flight from Sydney offers next-day delivery services to Mainland China, India, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam upon shipment arrival in Hong Kong.
DHL said customers who want to expand their reach within Asia Pacific can expect quicker and more efficient shipping services.
"Australia has signed several agreements with its Asian counterparts, and this has played an important role in enhancing the competitiveness of Australian exports. As trade flows continue to expand beyond countries and continents, the need for more efficient logistics solutions become more crucial," said Phil Corcoran, managing director for Australia and Papua New Guinea, DHL Express.
"More than ever, we are focused on network optimization to ensure our customers benefit from the robust demand of cross-border trade within the region. The launch of this Boeing 777 flight also marks DHL’s commitment to continuously improve trade flows," he added.
Andy Chiang, senior vice president and managing director for Hong Kong and Macau, DHL Express, said Hong Kong continues to hold a strategic position as a crucial regional logistics hub, instrumental in facilitating trade flows across the Asia Pacific.
"By introducing new direct flights to Sydney, we are fortifying our network, reducing transit times, and responding to the robust demand from cross-border trade. This strategic move enables our customers to access the Oceania market faster, reaffirming DHL's commitment to continually enhance connectivity and facilitate global trade. At DHL, we are not just delivering packages. We are delivering prosperity and growth," Chiang said.
For his part, Kim Rasmussen, chief executive officer of Tasman Cargo Airlines, said the carrier is proud to introduce another flight operation to our expanding aircraft network.
"The B777-200 freighter is a modern aircraft that delivers reliability, great capacity and transport options for different special commodities on top of general cargo and express products," Rasmussen added.
In addition to the new dedicated B777f flight from Sydney to Hong Kong, DHL also has a B777f flight between Sydney and Singapore.
DHL said this direct flight flies six times a week and offers next-day delivery services to Malaysia and Indonesia upon shipment arrival in Singapore, fortifying intra-Asia trade.
DHL Express' aviation network in Asia Pacific comprises over 30 dedicated aircraft and key partner airlines, including Tasman Cargo Airlines and Air Hong Kong.
Together, DHL Express operates over 710 daily flights across more than 220 countries and territories. The company also recently expanded its Central Asia Hub – one of its three global hubs – to facilitate the growth of intercontinental trade demand.
