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Cathay Pacific Airways (Cathay Pacific) and DHL Worldwide Express (DHL) today announced that they have signed a new joint venture agreement. DHL has now acquired a 30% stake in Cathay Pacific's formerly wholly-owned subsidiary, Air Hong Kong. Under the agreement, Air Hong Kong will now purchase a fleet of mid-range, wide-body aircraft to operate and enhance DHL's network to the major cities in the Asia Pacific region from the airline's base at Hong Kong International Airport.
Air Hong Kong plans to purchase five freighter aircraft by 2004, and to reach a fleet of at least eight aircraft by 2010. An initial investment of about US$300 million will be committed to the venture before 2004 and a further US$100 million by 2010.
Important to this agreement was the announcement last week that DHL will develop and operate the Express Cargo Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport which will serve as DHL's state-of-the-art Central Asia Hub. It is estimated that combined, these express cargo ventures will create a total of at least 700 new jobs in Hong Kong before 2004.
The new expanded air service, together with Hong Kong's superior cargo handling abilities, will provide shippers with a faster service at lower cost, thereby attracting express cargo to Hong Kong that would otherwise pass through other Asian hubs. Annual throughput for this joint venture will be about 160,000 tonnes - equivalent to about one sixth of all intra-Asian cargo that currently passes through Hong Kong International Airport. Throughput growth in this sector over the following five years is expected to be between 15-20 per cent per annum.
Cathay Pacific Chairman Mr James Hughes-Hallett said: "This new partnership with DHL demonstrates our support for the HKSAR Government's initiative to establish the SAR as the logistics centre for Asia. As the airline of Hong Kong, we are always committed to enhancing Hong Kong's role as Asia's aviation hub, creating new job opportunities and contributing to the development of the Hong Kong economy. We have already demonstrated our ability to deliver an efficient and cost-effective service in express cargo and we are delighted to take our relationship to the next level."
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer DHL Worldwide Express Mr. Uwe Dörken said: "DHL is delighted to enter this joint venture with our long-term partner Cathay Pacific to support express cargo growth in Hong Kong and Asia. Since we began operating overnight cargo/passenger flights with Cathay Pacific, we have maintained a close relationship with the airline. The express cargo joint venture will strengthen our service to more major Asian cities than ever and complement our collective vision for consolidating Hong Kong as the key express logistics centre of Asia."
The Hong Kong hub will be the focal point of DHL's Asian Air Network, which is designed for fast and secure intra-Asian express services. The Express Cargo Terminal, once completed in 2004, will replace DHL's existing Central Asia Hub, located at the Hactl Express Center at Hong Kong International Airport.
Since March 2000 Cathay Pacific and DHL have collaborated on overnight cargo/passenger flights from Hong Kong to Osaka, Seoul, Taipei and Singapore. Tokyo, serviced by Air Hong Kong, was added to this network in July this year.
About DHL Worldwide Express
DHL Worldwide Express is the global market leader of the international air express industry. An established innovator since pioneering the industry in 1969, DHL continues to be at the forefront of technology, offering fast, responsive, and cost-effective, express deliveries in addition to e-commerce fulfillment and intelligent logistics solutions. The DHL network links over 120,000 destinations in more than 220 countries and territories, and employs 71,000 people. DHL is majority owned by Deutsche Post World Net. Other shareholders include Japan Airlines. (The acquisition of Lufthansa's shares by DPWN was completed on 5 July, 2002 and is awaiting approval by the anti-trust agencies.)
About Cathay Pacific Airways
Cathay Pacific Airways is an international airline based and registered in Hong Kong, offering scheduled passenger and cargo services to approximately 60 destinations around the world. The airline maintains a fleet of 66 passenger and 12 freighter aircraft, with one freighter currently operated by Air Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific is deeply committed to Hong Kong, where the company was founded in 1946. The airline has made substantial investments in Hong Kong's aviation industry; in addition to its fleet of aircraft these include catering, aircraft maintenance and ground handling companies, as well as the airline's own corporate headquarters at Hong Kong International Airport. Cathay Pacific is also a founder member of the oneworld global alliance whose combined network serves 135 countries and territories and more than 570 destinations worldwide. Other members of oneworld are Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, LanChile and Qantas.
Cathay Pacific Airways
Corporate Communication Department