Singapore Airlines will this month begin operating a 777 freighter three times a week to the US via South Korea under a multi-jet outsourcing contract with DHL Express.
The aircraft will increase capacity on a key trade route with growing e-commerce volumes and will give DHL (DXE: DPW) greater flexibility to add new routes and optimize aircraft utilization as market conditions change.
The international parcel delivery giant recently received a factory 777 from Boeing and delivered it to Singapore’s Changi Airport, Singapore Airlines said this week. The freighter is dressed in two DHL-Singapore Airlines branding schemes.
In March DHL Express and Singapore Airlines have signed a crew and maintenance agreement deploy five Boeing 777 freighters operated by SIA pilots. DHL, which has ordered 21 twin-engine widebody trucks in recent years and has received 16 to date, will provide the aircraft.
DHL Aviation’s international network is based on a combination of its own and partner airlines.
“Singapore Airlines’ aviation expertise will enable us to better serve our customers’ cross-border trade needs as we leverage the strategic location of our South Asian hub in Singapore,” said Robert Hyslop, executive vice president of aviation at DHL Express, in a press release.
The 777 is popular as a long-haul heavy cargo aircraft due to its capacity and lower fuel consumption than four-engine aircraft. With a payload capacity of 112 tonnes, it can perform long-haul trans-Pacific flights with a payload capacity 20% greater than older large freighters such as the 747-400.
The second cargo Boeing 777 is planned to be put into operation in November. Both aircraft will operate the Singapore-Seoul-Los Angeles-Honolulu-Singapore route six times a week. The remaining three trucks are scheduled to be delivered in 2023. The route network will connect via points in North Asia and Australia.
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