TNT Express to add Naples and Florence to European air network from 9th Sept
TPG NV unit TNT Express will launch new connections between its European hub in Liege, Belgium, and Naples and Florence in Italy on Sept 9, said Christian Drenthen, managing director of TNT Express Worldwide Networks.
Speaking at a news conference, he said the new routes will bring the number of Italian airports in TNT Express’s network to eight, five more than rival DHL, a unit of Deutsche Post World Net AG, and four more than United Parcel Service Inc.
“The expansion brings us two steps closer to our plan of serving 67 European air gateways by the end of 2005 and reinforces our position as market leader in Italy,” Drenthen said.
Alan Jones, managing director of TNT Express, said the company remains on target to achieve breakeven in Australia this year.
He said some senior management have been replaced by people with proven track records, including new CEO Roger Corcoran.
Loss-making customers have been replaced with many profitable SMEs.
“We are already making weekly profits in Australia,” he said, adding that 2001 losses in the country were “New York telephone numbers” — which have seven digits without the area code.
Jones declined to comment on financial expectations for the second half of this year, after TNT Express saw its operating margin rise to 5.7% in the first six months from 5.0% a year earlier.
