DHL Express and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have agreed to deploy five Boeing 777 freighters under a Crew and Maintenance Agreement (CMA).
The arrangement, according to DHL Express, is a “further step” in the company’s intercontinental air network growth to meet customer demand in the fast-growing international express shipping markets.
“With the deployment of five Boeing 777 freighters, we can expand our express service linking the Asia Pacific area with the Americas,” says Travis Cobb, executive vice president worldwide network operations and aviation, DHL Express.
We anticipate the solid potential for robust development in trans-Pacific trade corridors following the pandemic. We consider cooperating with Singapore Airlines as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a long-term partnership with a long-term partner who shares our values and operates to the highest standards.”
The freighters, which will feature a dual DHL-SIA livery and be based at Singapore’s Changi Airport and serving DHL’s South Asia Hub there, will be operated by SIA pilots on routes to the United States of America via destinations in North Asia. SIA will also be in charge of the aircraft’s maintenance.
The original contract is for more than four years, with the option to extend it. The first aircraft will be delivered in July 2022, followed by the second in October 2022, as part of the agreement. The remaining three planes will be delivered between 2023 and 2024.
Lee Lik Hsin, executive vice president commercial, SIA, says: “Today’s agreement builds on and strengthens the long-standing partnership between SIA and DHL.
This new freighter operation will support the fast-growing e-commerce segment, in addition to other key business segments that rely on trusted express services that DHL excels in providing.
It also provides a foundation on which the partnership between SIA and DHL can be further expanded in the future. Basing these freighters at Changi Airport will further reinforce Singapore’s position as a key air cargo and e-commerce logistics hub, contributing to its growth and development.”
Ken Lee, CEO DHL Express Asia Pacific, adds: “This new agreement guarantees capacity on our critical routes out of Singapore as we gear up for ongoing growth in Asia Pacific trade. It gives us greater flexibility to add new routes and optimize our aircraft utilization in the face of unpredictable changes or sudden increases in demand.”
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