TNT expand Russian network

TNT Express has launched two scheduled air linehauls on the routes Vladivostok – Khabarovsk and Vladivostok – Novosibirsk in the Far East of Russia to expand its operational network in the country.

TNT Express has launched two scheduled air linehauls on the routes Vladivostok – Khabarovsk and Vladivostok – Novosibirsk in the Far East of Russia to expand its operational network in the country.

Thanks to the new flights, the company has considerably reduced its delivery times in the region concerned. From now on, delivery is made within 1-2 days depending on the tariff selected. The cargo types transported on the two routes include documents, spare parts and technical equipment, TNT Russia announced. It did not say which airline has been contracted to provide the airlift capacity.

“In the last few years, growth rates of national cargo volumes considerably surpassed those of international shipments. The implementation of scheduled linehauls is justified and is part of our strategy to strengthen the position of TNT Express on the Russian market, especially in Siberia and the Far East,” said Harro van Graafeiland, managing director of TNT Express in Russia.

In the near future, TNT Russia also plans to offer a direct flight between Vladivostok – Seoul, the capital of South Korea, to link Russia’s Far East with the TNT network in Asia-Pacific. This would reduce delivery times from 4-5 days to 1-3 days at competitive prices. Using a direct flight on this route will allow customers in the Far East to accelerate the process of interaction with international partners in Asian countries, TNT Russia said.

As an additional measure targeted at reducing transit times in the Far East, TNT has reduced transit times on cargo and documents delivery for customers living in Sakhalin, the largest island of Russia, located in the North Pacific. It now takes 1-2 days to delivery a parcel or express shipments from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, a small city on Sakhalin Island, to Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Blagoveshchensk or Komsomolsk-on-Amur, located near Khabarovsk. This enhancement primarily targets crude oil companies.

“In this region, there is a very high demand for express delivery services, not only within Russia and the region but also in terms of international destinations. Crude oil companies, lumber factories, engineering manufacturers and plane makers are still the main users of high-quality express solutions. This is confirmed by the intensive development of our branches in the Far East,” van Graafeiland added.