DHL Express & Singapore Airlines partnership takes off with new Boeing freighter aircraft

DHL Express has welcomed the arrival of its new Boeing 777 freighter at Singapore Changi Airport. The freighter, which sports a dual DHL-Singapore Airlines livery, has a maximum capacity of 102 tonnes. SIA will operate it on routes to the United States of America via South Korea thrice weekly from August 2022.

Mr Robert Hyslop, Executive Vice President for Aviation, DHL Express, commented: “Our global DHL Express aviation network consists of a combination of owned and partner airlines, which allows us to respond to increasing customer demand with agility and flexibility. The new Boeing 777 freighter demonstrates our ongoing effort to strengthen our network and adjust flight routes, as well as lower our carbon emissions to achieve greener logistics. Singapore Airlines’ expertise in flight operations will enable us to better meet our customers’ needs in cross-border commerce, as we leverage the strategic location of our South Asia Hub in Singapore.”

Mr Lee Lik Hsin, Executive Vice President Commercial, SIA, said: “SIA’s longstanding partnership with DHL reinforces Singapore’s position as a key air cargo and e-commerce logistics hub, and highlights our firm commitment to our cargo business. Air cargo also plays a vital role in keeping global supply chains open. Apart from supporting the fast-growing e-commerce segment, this new freighter operation provides a foundation to expand the partnership between SIA and DHL in the future.”

Ms Christy Reese, Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, Asia Pacific, Boeing, said: “We are thrilled that the partnership between DHL and Singapore Airlines will be predicated on the strength of Boeing 777 Freighters. The versatile 777 Freighter is the world’s largest, most capable twin-engine freighter and can fly long-range trans-Pacific missions in excess of 6,000 nautical miles with 20 percent more payload than other large freighters like the 747-400F.  The airplane, which is capable of carrying a maximum payload of 102 tonnes, will deliver superior tonne-per-mile economics for DHL and Singapore Airlines as they look to sustainably address increased demand in the global air freight market.”

In March 2022, DHL Express and SIA signed a Crew and Maintenance agreement to deploy five Boeing 777 freighters. These freighters will be operated by SIA pilots, with the maintenance overseen by SIA.

The second Boeing 777 freighter is slated to enter into service in November 2022, following which both freighters will operate the Singapore-Incheon-Los Angeles-Honolulu-Singapore route six times weekly. The remaining three freighters are planned for delivery throughout 2023. Following this, all five freighters will operate on routes between the United States and Singapore via points in North Asia and Australia.