DHL hires MasAir Cargo to shave day from Asia-Mexico transit

A white cargo jet parked, waiting for a load.

MasAir Cargo Airlines is operating a new air service for DHL Express from Los Angeles to Mexico six times per week, providing faster connection times for Asian exports originating in Hong Kong.

Since August, MAS has operated a Boeing 767-300 converted freighter from Los Angeles to Guadalajara and on to Mexico City under a transport contract with DHL Express.

The new flight, which MasAir Cargo announced Friday, adds 50 tons of capacity to DHL Express Mexico’s network, which now consists of 12 domestic flights and 10 international flights.

DHL Express Mexico announced the new Asia-to-Mexico service in a Spanish-language news release two weeks ago.

The new flight reduces delivery times by up to one day. Shipments from Hong Kong are now transshipped in Los Angeles and arrive at Mexican destinations the same day rather than being flown to DHL’s regional hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and being reloaded on outbound evening flights. DHL Express also said the earlier arrival times make it easier for shipments to clear customs, improving delivery times to customers.

The new flight will create about 80 jobs within DHL Express and at external customs brokers, DHL said.

DHL Express has been expanding its airline operations this year, including a new route from Los Angeles to the U.K., with the boom in e-commerce sales and overall business interest in finding available air transportation to move goods.

Privately held MasAir’s new majority owner is Discovery Americas, a Mexican private equity firm.

Click here for more FreightWaves stories by Eric Kulisch.

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