DHL Express welcomes its first ever Airbus A330-300 aircraft at its Penang Gateway, making Malaysia the first country in the world to operate it under a new passenger-to-freighter (P2F) deal with Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW).
The flight will also cover Vietnam and Hong Kong markets, with 33% more freight capacity per flight to strengthen their delivery capabilities across its network while enhancing its capability to deliver more shipments.
The A330-300 P2F will provide additional high-volume, low-density capacity in Malaysia with a gross payload of 61 metric tons. It will import and export goods six times weekly from Penang to Hong Kong. The converted A330-300 P2F features a range of updates including reinforcements to its fuselage, floor structure, door frame shell, newly-installed safety barrier nets and a powered cargo loading system. These additional features will ensure the timely and safe delivery of all goods being shipped.
Christopher Ong, Managing Director of DHL Express Malaysia & Brunei shares: “Asia Pacific is one of the fastest growing regions driven by e-Commerce trade. By welcoming our first A330-300 P2F aircraft, we are ready to service increasing e-Commerce volumes from Malaysia, which is expected to show a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9% from now to 2022”.
“Being the only logistics company in the world to own and operate the A330-300 P2F aircraft, DHL will be able to enhance service standards and match e-Commerce merchants’ and buyers’ demands,” he continues.
Together with the world’s first A330-300 P2F aircraft, the Penang Gateway will continue to play a major role in facilitating greater connectivity to the key markets with a total fleet of two aircraft, 30 vans, 25 trucks and nine bikes.
