Lessor Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) will lease four additional Boeing 767-300 converted freighters to DHL Network Operations USA.

The stand-alone dry-lease agreements are each for a term of seven years, with three of the four to be delivered during the second half of 2021 and the fourth in early 2022.

The leased freighters will bring "additional support to the DHL Express global network, with the four Boeing 767 aircraft extending the longstanding relationship between DHL and ATSG [CAM's parent firm]".

Once these additional four aircraft start flying, DHL Express will have 17 Boeing 767 aircraft under lease from CAM in its global network.

“The shipment volume growth that we continue experiencing requires the expansion of our global aviation network,” said Rob Hyslop, executive vice president, global aviation for DHL Express. "The freighter market is very competitive right now, so securing this additional capacity is critical to meet customer demand.”

Mike Berger, chief commercial officer of ATSG, added: “The demand for our 767 medium-widebody converted freighter aircraft remains very strong due to the continued expansion of express and e-commerce markets around the globe. We are proud to be one of the companies enabling the further expansion of e-commerce and m[obile]-commerce around the world.”

Earlier in May, ATSG announced decreased revenues and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (ebitda) in the first quarter of this year, partly due to decreased passenger services in the wake of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, DHL Express today announced plans for a shake up at its European airlines, with a new carrier launched in Austria and its UK airline concentrating on international flying.