DHL Express adds give 737s to Americas air fleet

DHL Express is expanding its fleet as part of a multi-year service agreement with US cargo carrier Southern Air, to serve the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The company is adding five Boeing 737-400 aircraft to expand its routes in the Americas during the first half of 2014.

Two of the aircraft are expected to be based in Venezuela and three in the United States.

Red Alexander, vice president of aviation for DHL Express Americas, said: “Right now, we are planning to get the first aircraft in service in early April and the last one by August 1.”

DHL Express said planned routes for the new aircraft include Caracas in Venezuela to Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago, and from Caracas to Bogota in Colombia and Panama.

The aircraft based in the States will run from the Cincinnati hub to several cities in the Northeast and Midwest, including Philadelphia, Hartford and St Louis.

DHL said expansion of its network was part of its efforts to expand global capabilities to improve customer service. But, the use of “fuel-efficient” aircraft is part of the company’s GoGreen programme of improving carbon efficiency.

Owned by private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners, Southern Air already operates four Boeing 777 freighters for DHL under a 10-year lease agreement renewed in January. The previous agreement was signed back in September 2011.

“Southern Air continually strives to provide its growing, blue-chip client base with reliable, efficient, flexible solutions that best suit their needs,” said Southern Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Daniel J. McHugh.

“We highly value our collaboration with DHL and will continue to enhance our fleet and air cargo capabilities in order to offer DHL safe, reliable and fuel efficient air lift at competitive costs.”