DHL Express ramps up its investment, increases its shipping capacity and deploys eight additional Boeing B777 freighter aircraft. These steps are being taken by the integrator in preparation of the assumed demand surge for express services in Q4, mainly propelled by fast rising e-commerce volumes.
The buyers of e-commerce shipments expect fast transportation and delivery services according to the motto: ordered yesterday, received today. Parcel delivery companies must meet this expectation, otherwise they risk losing business.
DHL points out that, with an expected increase of 8.8% in 2024, worldwide e-commerce remains a driving force for volume growth, while B2B shipment volume is gradually recovering. Most volumes travel on intercontinental lanes between Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas.
Large investment
In reaction to the integrator’s market considerations, DHL Express is investing over EUR 100 million in transport and handling capacity in the fourth quarter, to support its customers’ growth. Flanked by the ongoing modernization of its air freight fleet, DHL Express announced that it will be deploying eight Boeing 777 freighters. Three of these aircraft are newbuilds, while five will be leased long-term on ACMI conditions. The freighters will be based in Leipzig. If Boeing does not meet the agreed delivery deadline for the three freighters in the fourth quarter, DHL will charter capacity on the market to fill the gap in demand, a UK-based DHL spokesman told CargoForwarder Global.
“DHL Express is committed to remaining the partner of choice during the busy end-of-year peak season, which is often the most commercially important and operationally challenging time for many of our customers,” says John Pearson, CEO at DHL Express. “With ongoing volatility in global freight markets and a continued strong flow of e-commerce volumes, we are expecting a healthy surge in demand for express services in the fourth quarter. We are making the necessary investments to maximize the resilience of our global network and make our customers successful during a demanding 2024 peak.”
Many measures help to reduce CO² emissions
Alongside the above-mentioned investments in capacity and ground infrastructure, DHL Express stresses that it remains focused on its longer-term commitment to provide emission-reduced delivery services. In addition to efforts in replacing its global aircraft fleet and designing new buildings as carbon-neutral facilities, DHL Express was the first global express courier to give customers the opportunity to reduce their greenhouse gas (CHG) emissions using DHL GoGreen Plus Services, states a press release. Through cooperation with partners such as World Energy and Neste, SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) is used proportionately in the DHL Express aircraft fleet to reduce CO² emissions. Based on the ‘book and claim’ approach, the reductions achieved (Scope 3) are passed on to customers in the form of certificates. The integrator points out that current challenges like geopolitical tensions and trade barriers have led to the need for reorganizing supply chains, but they have not restricted the air freight sector’s inherent dynamism.
