DHL adds capacity to trans-Tasman network amid tight capacity

[caption id="attachment_93418" align="alignright" width="500"] A 737 Classic freighter like the one now operated by Airwork on trans-Tasman routes. Photo/Mesa Airlines[/caption] DHL has increased airfreight capacity linking Australia and New Zealand with 737 freighter flights operated by New Zealand-based Airwork. With airfreight capacity remaining tight for domestic and international flights in Australia and New Zealand, express carriers have turned to full freighters to fortify capacity. Since the onset of the pandemic, DHL has tripled the number of regular freighter flights it operates to Australia from ten per week to thirty. The five-times-weekly flight now links Melbourne (MEL) with Auckland (AKL) and Christchurch (CHC), and are consistent with 737-300 and 737-400 freighter flights recently operated by Airwork, according to FlightRadar24. DHL reported shipment volume between MEL and AKL up 49% compared to last year. Each international flight between Australia and New Zealand carries up to 19 tonnes of cargo, according to a release from DHL. The new flights follow recently added long-haul capacity from DHL Express’ JV carrier with Atlas, Polar Air Cargo. On Sept. 3, Polar began serving AKL for the first time with weekly 747-8F flights between Seoul (ICN), Sydney (SYD) and AKL. The routes complement existing 767-300F inter-capital flights between AKL and SYD, operated by Tasman Cargo Airlines. With the governments of Australia and New Zealand both restricting international travel to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, combination carriers in the two countries grounded most international flights beginning in March. Trans-Tasman passenger flights operated by carriers, including Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand, have gradually resumed in October. However, passenger flights to most other international destinations are limited to repatriation flights due to the government restrictions, according to Qantas. In response to the lower availability of bellyhold capacity, other airline partners that have added international flights to Australia on behalf of DHL Express include Kalitta Air and Air Transport International (ATI). In July, ATI was granted approval from the US Department of Transportation to operate flights between Hong Kong (HKG) and SYD via Guam (GUM). Kalitta began operating a DHL-owned 777F in the region on a CMI basis earlier this year. Airwork, for its part, leases charters and operates 737-300 and -400 freighters throughout Australia and New Zealand. Airwork’s airline affiliate has operated freighters for Japan Post-affiliate Toll since 2007, when Toll ACMI-leased four freighters from Airwork.

DHL adds capacity to trans-Tasman network amid tight capacity

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