DHL Express and Singapore Airlines have signed an agreement for the operation of Boeing 777 freighter aircraft.
The two companies announced on Thursday, 10th March, that Singapore Airlines will operate five current-generation Boeing 777F for DHL. This agreement includes crew and maintenance, meaning that the aircraft remain part of DHL’s fleet but Singapore Airlines will take care of flying and maintaining them.
The first of the five planes is set to be delivered in July 2022, with a second one following in October and three more in 2023. All five 777F will be based at Singapore Changi Airport and serve DHL’s South Asian network. They will be deployed on trans-Pacific routes between Asia and North America, to expand express services connecting the two markets, the logistics company says. The livery features a mixed Singapore Airlines and DHL design.
More than 320 aircraft around the world are operated either by or for DHL Express, according to the company. However, a major partner of DHL, Air Bridge Cargo, is currently facing severe restrictions due to sanctions against Russia following its war against Ukraine. It was not immediately clear just how big the effect its global operations is. The Moscow-based cargo airline operates Boeing 747 freighters on a number of DHL routes, many of which have been canceled due to airspace closures. Furthermore, DHL no longer offers deliveries to or from Russia.
Jakob Wert is an aviation journalist from Germany. He built up the website IFN.news and is the Editor-In-Chief of International Flight Network.
