Tasman Cargo Airlines, based out of Sydney Kingsford Smith, has initiated a new direct freight service to Hong Kong International, operating a wet-leased Boeing 777-200F under an agreement with DHL Express. This service, which commenced on April 16, marks a significant expansion in the airline’s freight operations in Asia.
The aircraft, a 14-year-old Boeing 777-200 freighter with the registration N772CK (msn 35607), has been leased from Kalitta Air on an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) basis. According to ADS-B flight tracking data, the service kicked off this week and will contribute to enhancing DHL Express’s logistical capabilities in the region.
In a statement released on April 12, Tasman Cargo Airlines noted that it had previously received approval in September 2023 from Australia’s International Air Services Commission to operate five weekly roundtrips between Sydney and Hong Kong. The newly established route aims to provide Australian customers with faster delivery services to Hong Kong and key markets in mainland China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Kim Rasmussen, CEO of Tasman Cargo Airlines, expressed pride in the expansion, stating, “The Boeing 777-200 freighter is a modern aircraft that delivers reliability, great capacity, and transport options for different special commodities on top of general cargo and express products.”
Tasman Cargo Airlines already has a robust partnership with DHL Express, operating two DHL-owned Boeing 767-300Fs on the Australia-New Zealand route and a wet-leased Boeing 767-300ER(BCF) between Australia and Singapore. The addition of the Sydney-Hong Kong route is expected to streamline DHL’s freight operations previously routed through Singapore, thus optimizing transit times and expanding service offerings for their customers in the Asia-Pacific region.
