DHL Airways to re-brand as Astar Air Cargo
DHL Airways today announced that the Miami-based cargo airline is launching a re-branding program, and changing its name to ASTAR (pronounced A-Star) AIR CARGO, INC. The re-branding will commence immediately and the name change will become effective upon completion of the acquisition of DHL Airways by a U.S. investor group led by Chairman and CEO John Dasburg. In the coming months, the charter cargo airline will incorporate the ASTAR name and logo throughout all of its marketing and operations functions.
While ASTAR AIR CARGO will continue to concentrate on providing high quality, reliable and on-time contract service for its largest customer, DHL Worldwide Express, the name change will reinforce the reality that ASTAR is not a corporate affiliate of DHL Worldwide Express, and does not intend to confine its commercial activities to servicing its contract with DHL Worldwide Express.
Dasburg said the company name change further demonstrates the commitment of the carrier’s new ownership toward putting the airline on a path toward becoming a global air cargo charter leader. “The leadership of ASTAR AIR CARGO is delivering on the promise of positioning the airline for future growth,” said Dasburg.
On May 21, 2003, a U.S. investor group led by Dasburg announced that it was purchasing all outstanding shares of DHL Airways, with the expectation that the transaction will be completed by June 30. At the time of the announcement, the Dasburg group also announced that it intended to re-brand and change the name of the carrier in the near future. With today’s exciting announcement of the pending re-branding and name change to ASTAR AIR CARGO, the Dasburg-led management team is demonstrating that it is moving with speed and determination to deliver on its vision.
Dasburg emphasized to DHL Airways’ nearly 1,000 employees that the new ownership and management of the airline are committed to action. “To the dedicated men and women of this airline, I hope this swift re-branding and name change to ASTAR AIR CARGO will demonstrate that ‘promises made are promises kept,'” said Dasburg.
ASTAR AIR CARGO will inherit a venerable heritage, as DHL Airways is one of the oldest and most reliable companies in the air freight business. The cargo airline, which maintains an airline hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, was founded over 30 years ago in San Francisco and employs nearly 1,000 Americans. The airline operates 40 aircraft in the United States or abroad for the United States Air Force, and was actively engaged in providing service to the U.S. Department of Defense during the Iraqi conflict. The airline currently serves the U.S. military with missions to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany and other military bases around the world. The company is completing its move to Miami, Florida.
Copyright (c) 2003 Business Wire
