DHL Global Forwarding (GF) has introduced an airfreight charter service, which connects Asia Pacific to Europe and the US.
Managed by StarBroker, DHL GF’s in-house charter team, the twice-weekly charter originates from Chongqing and flies to Amsterdam, Chicago and Incheon before returning to China.
DHL GF said the service was launched in response to increased demand for pharma and technology goods.
According to DHL GF, South Korea has seen its export of healthcare products rise year-on-year by 26.7% in the first half of 2020; pharma goods meanwhile increased by 52.5%.
DHL GF added that China has exported 28.5% more medical devices in the first five months of the year, compared with a year ago.
In 2019, China, the Netherlands and the US were among the top ten importers and exporters of medical goods.
Thomas Mack, global head of airfreight DHL GF, commented: “While some passenger airlines have resumed operations, the situation in the airfreight market remains volatile – especially as belly capacity is still tight.
“As the leader in the airfreight market, DHL GF’s top priority is to provide our customers with sufficient and reliable airfreight capacity. Not only are the resilient, agile and reliable supply chains of highest importance for an economic recovery, but also in preparation for the availability of vaccines and other essential medical supplies during the pandemic.”
Mack added: “Over the years, DHL has built up its expertise from globally certified facilities and staff to technologies that track shipments in real-time in addition to ensuring the integrity of such products throughout their journey. Getting the much-needed air capacity is the last piece in the value chain puzzle, so to speak, that ensures temperature sensitive products such as life-saving vaccines reach the communities-in-need.”
