DHL Express has placed an order for eight additional new Boeing 777 freighters in a move to further expand its intercontinental air network to meet customer demand in the fast-growing express shipping markets. First deliveries are scheduled for 2022.
'Although the current health crisis has pushed pause on several areas of life, global trade did not stand still,' says DHL Express chief executive officer John Pearson. 'Fuelled by globalization, digitalization and the unprecedented demand of our customers during the recent peak season, our global e-commerce volume grew by more than 40% in the fourth quarter.
The Boeing 777 fits well into our intercontinental network and perfectly complements our sustainability goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.” As of November 2020, DHL maintained a fleet of 15 Boeing 777F aircraft which are operated by AeroLogic, Southern Air and Kalitta Air, according to data obtained from Planespotters.net. Southern Air Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, is a global air cargo carrier headquartered in Florence, Kentucky. It is a certified U.S. FAA part 121 cargo carrier. International courier company DHL Express has received the first of six new Boeing 777-200 freighters scheduled for delivery this year as it ramps up capabilities to serve the rapidly growing e-commerce market.
“With the order of eight new wide-body freighter aircraft, we underline our conviction that e-commerce is an enduring megatrend. This is why we decided to act early and kick-off 2021 with this investment in our future.'
The world's largest and most capable twin-engine freighter, the B777 supports future growth while providing outstanding reliability. The aircraft will also contribute to the group's sustainability goals due to its fuel-efficient technology reducing CO2 emissions by 18% compared to the legacy B747-400s.
The plane has a range of 9,200 kilometres (4,970 nautical miles) and can carry a maximum payload of 102,010 kilograms (224,900 lbs). It allows DHL Express to make fewer stops and reduce associated landing fees on long-haul routes, resulting in the lowest trip cost of any large freighter.
Preceding the latest order, DHL Express had already taken delivery of the first ten new B777F aircraft as part of an original order of 14 aircraft made in 2018. These timely deliveries ensured that DHL could accommodate the unprecedented demand during the peak shipping season.
The company operates over 260 dedicated aircraft with 17 partner airlines making over 600 daily flights across 220 countries and territories.
In another development, DHL Global Forwarding is investing 126.5 million rand (US$8.29 million) into a new facility in Johannesburg.
Aimed at cementing the company’s leading market position in South Africa, the 13,000 square metre facility will be located at the newly-developed Skyparks Business Estate near Oliver Reginald Tambo International Airport. It will boast 10,000sqm of warehousing space, doubling the existing capacity to meet future demand.
DHL Express has ordered eight incremental B777-Fs directly from Boeing with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2022. The order also includes a further four options.
'Driven by globalisation, digitisation and uniquely high demand in the high season of shopping, our global e-commerce volume grew by more than 40% in the fourth quarter. With the purchase of eight new wide-body cargo planes, we underline our conviction that e-commerce is an ongoing megatrend. We, therefore, wanted to react early and start investing in our future in 2021,' Chief Executive John Pearson said.
A spokesman for the logistics firm told ch-aviation that it was too early to disclose which airline would operate the aircraft given first deliveries are only due in 2022.
DHL Express owns several airlines around the world, including EAT Leipzig (QY, Leipzig/Halle), DHL Air (D0, East Midlands), DHL Aero Expreso (D5, Panamá City Tocumen Int'l), DHL de Guatemala (L3, Guatemala City), and DHL International Aviation Middle East (ES, Bahrain Int'l). It is also a 50% shareholder in AeroLogic (3S, Leipzig/Halle), a joint venture with Lufthansa Group. It also leases its aircraft to third-party carriers and charters their aircraft for DHL operations.
Dhl 777 Model
DHL Express ordered fourteen B777-Fs in 2018, of which it has so far taken delivery of 10. According to the ch-aviation fleets ownership module, DHL Worldwide Express owns six of these aircraft of which three are leased to Kalitta Air (K4, Detroit Willow Run), two to Southern Air (9S, Cincinnati Int'l), and one to AeroLogic. There are twenty-nine B777-Fs operated on behalf of DHL Express, including 17 by AeroLogic, four by Kalitta Air, and eight by Southern Air.
Dhl 777 Fleet
About AeroLogic
Type | Cargo Carrier |
---|---|
Base | Leipzig/Halle |
Aircraft | 17 |