TNT strengthens Europe-China connection
TNT Express has launched a direct scheduled B747 service between China and Europe. The service will connect Chongqing, a fast-growing high-tech manufacturing centre in Western China, with TNT’s Liege hub, initially running three times a week.
TNT is the first express company to offer dedicated flights between Europe and Chongqing in response to growing demand from the region’s high-tech industry.
The Chinese government’s “Western China Development Strategy” has boosted the economic development in the region. In the first eight months of 2010, exports from Chongqing rose 62.1% to $4.2bn. The city’s GDP increased by 17.6% in the first half of 2010 to $54.51bn. The growing manufacturing and trade in Chongqing, largely driven by the high-tech sector, creates huge market opportunities for TNT, the company said.
“We are pleased to contribute to the high-tech industry’s development in the region by providing pioneering international delivery services between Chongqing and Europe,” said Michael Drake, regional managing director, TNT North Asia. “As the first company to provide dedicated freight service to Chongqing, we are well-positioned to seize the growing business opportunity between Western China and Europe by providing our customers with the fastest, most consistent and reliable express services.
“China is a strategically vital market for TNT globally. By leveraging our strengths and capability in both international express and domestic road transportation services, we are in a unique market position to offer customers a combined delivery service that can meet both growing export and domestic demand across the country including Western China.”
Since September 2010, TNT has increased its flight frequency to Shanghai and Hong Kong to seven and six times a week respectively. TNT is also strengthening its Chinese domestic road delivery services and in particular its National day-definite road distribution network.
