DHL names Polar Air Cargo as transpacific partner

Asia - DHL Express kicked off its transpacific partnership with Polar Air Cargo this week, a collaboration expected to enhance the company's Time Definite product offering between Asia and the US.

The partnership outlines a Block Space Agreement under which DHL will utilise Polar Air Cargo's scheduled weekday flights from Los Angeles, Wilmington and New York via Anchorage to the Asian destinations of Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo.

The partnership is expected to enhance transpacific connectivity and service reliability, while adding eight key Asian and US destinations to its existing network.

John Mullen, CEO DHL Express, said, "The partnership with Polar Air Cargo enables DHL to significantly improve its Time Definite product offering and thus become more attractive to our customers on one of the world's most important trade lanes. Moreover, we are extending our transpacific services to also include a connection to JFK, offering a Time Definite service from Asia to the United States East Coast," said Mullen.

DHL said the company is experiencing a steady increase in air cargo volume on its transpacific routes despite a slowdown in 2008. The company has predicted double digit growth in the mid-term.

Dan McHugh, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific said, "Asia-US is a vitally important intercontinental trade lane. Hong Kong, China, Korea and Japan currently account for over 50% of DHL's shipments between Asia and the US; the transpacific partnership [will] significantly enhances connectivity, service reliability and on-time performance for our customers in the US and Asia Pacific," he said.

Polar Air Cargo has recently achieved a globally recognised safety and quality standard (IOSA) following a stringent audit of its operational standards and procedures.