DHL Express strengthens trans-Tasman airfreight capacity with new service connecting Melbourne to New Zealand

• The dedicated route will connect Melbourne to Auckland and Christchurch five nights a week, providing a faster delivery and more efficient shipment collection time for Australian and New Zealand businesses
• New service launch follows 49% growth in Melbourne-New Zealand shipment volumes in the past year

DHL Express, the world’s leading express service provider has commenced operation of a new overnight direct freighter service connecting Melbourne to the New Zealand cities of Auckland and Christchurch. The dedicated service will provide a faster connection between the cities amid growing demand for time definite international services.

Operating five services a week, the dedicated freighter will provide a further 19 tonnes of freight capacity for businesses trading between the two countries. New Zealand is the state’s third largest major export destination after China and the United States, accounting for 7.6% of total state exports.^[1]

Providing the express industry’s fastest delivery time for shipments, Australian and New Zealand businesses will benefit from a reliable shipment transit time of just one day. Furthermore, the service claims the industry’s best shipment collection time, allowing businesses to book in their shipments for courier pick-up later in the business day. For example, the cut-off time for shipment collection in the Melbourne CBD area is 6.00pm, which is an hour later than the current market offering.

“We are pleased to launch this new dedicated freighter service to further connect Australian and New Zealand businesses. With its reliable and fast transit time, the service will bring the two countries closer together and enable greater efficiencies by reducing supply chain costs and easing traditional barriers to market entry for small businesses, such as the need for in-country warehousing and distribution centres. In the 12 months to date, we’ve experienced Melbourne to New Zealand shipment volumes grow at a rate of 49% and this service reaffirms our commitment to supporting trade across the Tasman,” Gary Edstein, CEO and Senior Vice President, DHL Express Oceania said.

“The Victorian Government welcomes DHL Express’ commitment to this new service which will strengthen the connection between Victorian and New Zealand businesses. This new dedicated route will support business growth across the state, with faster delivery and more efficient freight times for trans-Tasman trade,” Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula said.

The service further bolsters DHL’s existing trans-Tasman express delivery capabilities, supporting the upgraded Auckland to Sydney Boeing 767-300F freighter service launched in 2018.

DHL’s latest trans-Tasman investment follows the AU$20 million (€14 million) infrastructure upgrade to the company’s Melbourne Gateway facility in 2015, and the NZ$15.3 million (€9.9 million) upgrade to its Auckland Gateway facility in 2016.

^[1] Australian Government, Australia’s Trade by State and Territory 2018-19, p.32, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/australia-state-territory-2018-19.pdf