Global freight company DHL is set to use a larger plane on its trans-Tasman service as it revamps its international fleet.
The firm is replacing its current Boeing 757 with a bigger Boeing 767-300 on the Auckland to Sydney route, the NZ Herald reports.
This will enable an extra 24 tonnes or 80% more cargo.
DHL is also upgrading its international network with an order of 14 new Boeing 777 Freighters. The delivery of the first four planes is expected to be completed in 2019.
It’s a move which will see the company gradually replace its older aircraft with new modern fuel-efficient freighter aircraft.
DHL chief executive Ken Allen says the new airplanes will help emission reduction targets and will contribute to more markets with non-stop flights.
“DHL was an early adopter of this type of aircraft for the logistics industry … With extensive experience operating this freighter type, it has proven to be superior in all aspects of operation making it a logical choice,” Allen says.
The Boeing 777 Freighters are the world’s largest twin-engine cargo airplanes and are capable of flying 4,900 nautical miles (9,070 kilometers) with a cargo load of 102 tons.
DHL Express operates more than 260 dedicated aircraft with 17 partner airlines with around 600 daily flights across 220 countries.
The purchase of fully owned freighters, with pre-order payments of €200 million, is part of a new financial strategy by the DHL division having mostly leased aircraft for its past global network.
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