TNT cargo to stopover in Singapore

Singapore - TNT's Boeing 747-400 cargo plane will begin stopping over in Singapore en route from China and Europe from May 25.

The added service, which will stopover in Singapore three times a week, will boost capacity by 900 tonnes weekly, TNT said.

Onno Boots, regional managing director of TNT southeast Asia said customers will benefit from faster and more reliable delivery performance to and from Europe, and to and from China and within Southeast Asia.

"It gives [customers] improved reliability network, improved capacity and improved speed," Boots said at the inaugural landing of the TNT Boeing 747-400 on Friday. "This leads to increased supply chain productivity, efficiency, transparency, predictability in the supply chain and speed to market."

TNT said it is looking to tap into the growing demand for freight express services in the region and Europe.

According to a TNT study, the greatest demand for express freight will be between China and Southeast Asia, which represents some 24% of total express volumes transported by air.

"The trade flow between greater China and Europe is also significant as it accounts for 20% of overall air trade volumes," said TNT express COO James McCormac.

The company has also earmarked euro 100 million to invest in the region over the next five years. According to the company, half of this amount will be invested in the aircraft and half in infrastructure investment, which includes people development, delivery and improving the TNT Asia road network which links over 120 cities in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and China.

Senior minister of state for finance and transport Lim Hwee Hua said the 2007 growth in the Singapore air cargo sector was challenging, due to fluctuating fuel prices.

Transhipment cargo volumes handled by Changi grew 3.8% last year, she said.