TNT links China to Europe with two Boeing 747-400ERFs
Global provider of mail, express and logistics services TNT N.V. today announced that its Express Division will lease two B747-400ERF freighters to start up a new direct service between Europe and China in 2006.
The 100 tonnes capacity aircraft will be leased for a period of ten years from the US-based aircraft leasing company Guggenheim Aviation Partners and will provide TNT with its own dedicated capacity between China and Europe. Two years ago, TNT successfully launched its Integrated Direct Express (IDE) service between China and Europe in response to the rapid growth of its global high-tech client base. And TNT is now able to offer its clients up to 1,000 to 1,250 tonne of dedicated controlled air linehaul capacity per week, connecting TNT’s European hub with the main gateways in China.
“This is a major step towards achieving our strategic objective of being the number one carrier between Asia and Europe”, said Peter Bakker, CEO of TNT N.V. “It provides us with much needed additional capacity between China and Europe, where our volumes have grown by 35 per cent year-to-date, compared with 2004. The investment in the two new freighters will also ensure service reliability and allow us to take advantage of the growth in manufacturing exports out of China.”
The new and most modern version of the “jumbos” will be introduced into service in November 2006 and in June 2007. One will do four round trips per week between Shanghai and Europe (Liege, where the company’s European Air Network is based), while the second will enable the company to increase the total number of weekly trips to five, and up to nine. Maximum aircraft utilisation will additionally be achieved by operating for third party partner airlines.
The aircraft will be the largest ever operated by TNT (surpassing its present biggest, the A300) and will be the first-ever B747 to sport the distinctive orange and white TNT livery.
Notes to editors
TNT N.V. is a global provider of mail, express and logistics services. The group employs over 161,000 people in 63 countries and serves over 200 countries. For 2004 the company reported sales of € 12.6 billion. TNT N.V. is publicly listed on the stock exchanges of Amsterdam, New York, London and Frankfurt. The TNT N.V. website is: http://group.tnt.com
