DHL launches weekly East Midlands – Hong Kong cargo service

DHL Express has launched a weekly Hong to East Midlands Airport cargo flight.

The new service is currently the UK’s only dedicated cargo flight to the UK from China carrying goods exclusively for the UK.

Operated by the Boeing 747-8 Queen of the Skies, with a cargo capacity of 100 tonnes, the flight departs Hong Kong on Fridays arriving at East Midlands Airport on Sunday. Shipments enter the delivery cycle to be distributed across the UK on Monday morning. Some 95% of the goods on board are time-critical products, says the airport, from medical and industrial supplies to consumer e-commerce shipments.

In addition to the Hong Kong – EMA route, DHL Express has also introduced two additional new routes from JFK Airport and Miami International into EMA and, later this month, a new flight from EMA to Los Angeles will also be introduced. These routes are in response to the growing demand for time-critical deliveries from the USA.

Karen Smart, managing director, East Midlands Airport, said: “We very much welcome DHL’s continued investment in its EMA operation. It is fitting that currently the only direct cargo flight to the UK from China comes into EMA which is home to the UK’s largest dedicated air cargo operation. This new route is further evidence of the airport’s vital role as a global hub for time-critical goods and a facilitator of world trade. As one of the UK’s most strategically important infrastructure assets, EMA is well-placed to support the gradual steps being taken by countries to re-start manufacturing and exports as they ease their way to normality following COVID-19 as well as being key to unlocking the UK’s economic potential in the coming years.”

Ian Wilson, of DHL Express, said: “As lockdowns in many countries around the world begin to ease, we’re seeing a sustained growth in demand for goods from Asia, covering all of the usual high value or time-critical products like technology, medical and industrial goods. We have introduced this new direct route operating into EMA as a direct response to this, and as part of our ongoing adaptations to the network to enable us to best serve our customers.”