DHL Express, one of the global leaders in the international express delivery market, has changed the aircraft transporting international air shipments for customers in the Northern Poland region. The previous aircraft has been replaced by an ATP Freighter, which features a much larger payload capacity and better technical parameters.
The ATP Freighter operates the connection between the air shipment gateway in Gdańsk, located at the Lech Wałęsa Airport, and one of DHL Express’s three global hubs in Leipzig (Germany). The change of aircraft brings specific benefits for the company and its customers. First and foremost, there is increased payload capacity. The ATP has an enlarged cargo cabin and a net payload of 7 tons, which is nearly 60% more than its predecessor. The number of air containers that can be transported at once has nearly doubled, from 4 to 7. This model has Category II landing capability, meaning it requires only 300 meters of visibility to land, which allows for landings even in poor weather conditions, such as fog in the Gdańsk area. The freighter is more economical to operate, consumes less fuel, and reaches higher speeds than its predecessor, which means it covers the Leipzig – Gdańsk – Leipzig route in less time.
– For a long time, we have been observing a systematic increase in the number of shipments from our customers in the Northern Poland region. That is why we are investing in the development of our aviation infrastructure and have made the decision to change the aircraft. All the associated benefits allow us to provide the highest quality of international air service to our customers in Northern Poland – said Tomasz Buraś, Managing Director of DHL Express (Poland).
The ATP has features that facilitate daily operations. These include side-sliding cargo doors (instead of upward-opening ones as in other aircraft models), which allows them to be opened even during strong winds. It is an advanced turboprop, which reduces the probability of incidents such as bird strikes in the aircraft engine. The aircraft is also more ecological and environmentally friendly. It is operated by Atlantic Airlines, which collaborates with DHL Express.
– In just the last few months of this year, we have recorded double-digit growth in the number of international air export and import shipments. Before Gdańsk, we replaced the aircraft with a larger one in Katowice (Pyrzowice) for shipments from customers in Southern Poland. We are introducing and developing additional service packages that support our customers’ business operations. We will certainly continue to work on improving our service offering; the motto “Excellence. Simply delivered” is a commitment for every DHL Express employee around the world – concluded Tomasz Buraś, Managing Director of DHL Express (Poland).