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DHL Global Forwarding adds new Vietnam-US freighter operation

DHL Global Forwarding (GF) is adding a new freighter operation from Southeast Asia to the US in another sign of the current strength of the transpacific trade lane. The forwarder will offer a three-times-per-week service from Bangkok to Cincinnati to capitalise on growing demand levels from Southeast Asia and to provide predictable costs and supply chain resilience. The service will offer 100 tons of capacity per flight - indicating the use of a Boeing 777 freighter - and will be complemented by road feeder service connections for cargo once it arrives in the US. The service operates on a rotation of Hanoi, Taipei, Anchorage, Chicago O'Hare International, Incheon and Hanoi. The capacity is secured through a long-term charter deal with an unnamed US carrier. In a press release, DHL GF said that the market is characterised by disruption and fluctuating rates. The regular service will therefore provide secure maindeck capacity, stable schedules and improved cost predictability. "The solution is particularly suited for oversized and high-value cargo, supported by end-to-end operational control," the forwarder added. Henk Venema, global head of airfreight at DHL GF, said: "Southeast Asia continues to gain strategic importance as a manufacturing and sourcing region. "With our new Bangkok-Cincinnati connection and broader Transpacific network coverage, we are offering customers not only speed and capacity, but also the reliability and control they need to build more resilient supply chains. "Expanding our controlled airfreight capacity is a key lever to help customers navigate volatility and respond to disruption more effectively." DHL GF added that the service was part of its broader controlled capacity strategy that has seen it expand its airfreight network covering Asia, Europe and the Middle East, including multiple weekly rotations across key hubs such as Frankfurt, Liège, Amsterdam, and Hong Kong. In a recent interview with Air Cargo News for the summer issue, Venema spoke of growing demand for the transport of data centres containing servers and data storage. And thanks to the China Plus One supply chain diversification strategy implemented by companies, many of these cloud shipments are being moved out of Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan to the US, mainly, but also into Europe and Latin America. "Those are the three countries that we're paying a lot of attention to, especially when it comes to US demand," he said during the interview. The decision to add capacity to the lane comes as demand continues to soar. In May, IATA figures show that volumes from Asia to North America, which is the world's largest trade lane, increased by 23.5% year on year. These trade lanes continue to be boosted by high-value cargo, such as data centre equipment and computer chips. Meanwhile, e-commerce growth has returned to the US in recent months following the ending of its duty-free allowance for small packages in 2025. DHL Global Forwarding is not the only air cargo company looking to capitalise on demand growth from Vietnam to the US, with Emirates also looking to add a freighter service from the country. Speaking to Air Cargo News at the recent Air Cargo China exhibition, Nadeem Sultan, senior vice president, cargo planning and freighters at Emirates SkyCargo, said that the carrier was expecting to enter the transpacific trade lane to capitalise on rising demand. The service, which could launch this month, would operate on a round-the-world basis, starting in Dubai before going to Hanoi, Anchorage, Chicago, Europe and then back to Dubai. In Europe, the service would likely call at either Schiphol or Frankfurt, he said. "Demand is driven by a lot of general cargo but also, out of Vietnam, a lot of tech and electronics, whether it's phones, AI industry-related hardware, laptops, all of that kind of demand," said Sultan. "Vietnam has become a massive production destination and that is driving a lot of this growth."

DHL increases outlook after strong Q2

The DHL Group has increased its operating profit outlook for the year after preliminary results for the second quarter showed a strong improvement on last year led by the express division. The Bonn-headquartered parcels and logistics group said that business development in the second quarter showed continued growth and, consequently, positive earnings momentum. "Compared with the prior-year quarter, which had been impacted by customs and other trade policy conditions, the group recorded a return to significant revenue growth," DHL said. "In addition, the reduced cost base resulting from the Fit for Growth [cost-saving programme] measures continued to have a positive effect across the group, leading to second-quarter earnings rising more strongly than market expectations." The company's preliminary results for the second quarter showed a 10% year-on-year increase in revenues, while earnings before interest and tax (ebit) increased by 29% to €1.85bn. As a result, and assuming no further worsening of the geopolitical situation, the company raised its ebit outlook for the full year to €6.5bn from its previous forecast of €6.2bn. Second quarter preliminary results for DHL Express show an ebit of €1.2bn compared with €730m last year, reflecting a "very favourable operating leverage effect of the return to weight growth" and further supported by gains of around €150m driven by capacity constraints in the airfreight market. Meanwhile, DHL Global Forwarding generated ebit of around €240m compared with €196m last year due to a positive effect of low-to-mid double-digit million from successfully managing market disruptions. DHL Supply Chain recorded earnings of around €305m in the quarter, compared with the prior-year result of €348m, although this included positive non-recurring effects of €54m. Finally, DHL eCommerce reported ebit of around €50m compared with €56m last year after a non-recurring positive effect of around €20m related to M&A was offset by other negative non-recurring items.

Clean energy for Heathrow Animal Reception Centre

A project to install 94 solar panels and other low-carbon heating systems is now complete at Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC). The solar panels at the City of London Corporation-managed HARC will generate clean electricity on site, helping to power low‑carbon heating and hot water systems, energy‑efficient lighting and upgraded ventilation. A number of low-carbon heat pumps have also been installed, helping to replace outdated systems and provide more consistent, energy-efficient temperature control across the specialist facility. The entire upgrade has been delivered without disrupting operations. The work reduces the facility's reliance on the National Grid, strengthening its energy resilience and long-term operational reliability. Together, these improvements will cut the site's carbon emissions by nearly 56 tonnes a year - equivalent to powering roughly 21 average-sized homes - and save more than £44,500 annually in energy costs. HARC is the UK's only Live Animal Border Control Post designated for all species. Operating 24/7, the IATA CEIV Live Animals certified facility cares for millions of animals annually. The facility enforces UK and international regulations on animal imports and works with airlines to ensure compliance with welfare standards. The recent green investment at HARC form part of the City of London's Corporation's own Climate Action Strategy, which commits the organisation to becoming net zero in its own operations by 2027. Policy chairman at the City of London Corporation Chris Hayward said: "Our Climate Action Strategy is delivering real results right across London. Even in some of our most complex environments, we've shown that no site is too challenging - cutting carbon while protecting critical national infrastructure. "By continuing to invest in HARC, we're ensuring it is ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead at Heathrow, strengthening the long-term resilience and security of this vital national asset." Peter Dunphy, chair of the City of London Corporation's Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, added: "HARC is one of the UK's most critical border facilities, operating at the front line of biosecurity. "Delivering this upgrade without interrupting our 24/7 operation is a major achievement and underlines our commitment to sustainability alongside resilience. "It also supports the high standards of care we provide, helping us maintain the controlled environments animals rely on when they arrive in the UK."