DHL Express has completed a major upgrade to its Asia Pacific aviation network with the addition of its 14th Airbus A330 freighter, marking the official retirement of its long-serving A300-600F fleet.
The milestone concludes a multi-year re-fleeting program designed to enhance service capability and operational efficiency across the region. The A330 freighters are exclusively used for DHL Express shipments and are operated and maintained by long-standing regional partner Air Hong Kong, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific.
Peter Bardens, Senior Vice President for Network Operations & Aviation – Asia Pacific at DHL Express, said the move was driven by the company’s commitment to meeting evolving customer and operational needs. “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,” he said.
The now-retired A300-600F had been a backbone of DHL Express’s Asia Pacific operations for two decades, transporting nearly three million tonnes of express cargo and supporting Hong Kong’s position as a global aviation hub.
The newer A330F model brings several advantages: a 25 per cent increase in payload capacity, improved fuel efficiency, a longer range of 7,400 kilometres, and a more flexible cargo configuration that accommodates a wider variety of pallet sizes and containers.
Clarence Tai, Chief Operating Officer of Air Hong Kong, praised the outgoing aircraft and acknowledged the support from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, the Cathay Group, and DHL. “The A300-600F has been a stalwart of Air Hong Kong’s fleet. The new-generation A330F brings considerable benefits that will enable us to further enhance our operations and services for our customers.”
The re-fleeting marks a new chapter for DHL Express’s regional logistics capabilities.