Air Hong Kong signs order for six airbus freighters
AHK Air Hong Kong Ltd. today signed a purchase agreement for six new Airbus A300-600F ¡§General Freighter¡¨ aircraft in order to implement its previously announced plan to expand operations within the Asian region.
The six wide-body aircraft are scheduled for delivery between the second half of 2004 and first quarter of 2005. AHK, the Hong Kong-based all-cargo carrier, also has options on four more of the same aircraft type for possible delivery at a later date. A final decision has yet to be made on which engine will power the aircraft.
AHK will be the launch customer for the A300-600F ¡§General Freighter¡¨, which differs from A300-600F aircraft currently being built for other carriers in that it has a loading system and side door capable of handling large items of general freight in addition to small packages.
AHK¡¦s order is in furtherance of its cooperative venture with DHL Worldwide Express, signed in October 2002, to support DHL¡¦s services to major cities in the Asia Pacific region from AHK¡¦s base at Hong Kong International Airport. AHK currently operates a DHL service to Tokyo. Cathay Pacific Airways owns 70 percent of AHK and DHL holds a 30 percent stake.
AHK Air Hong Kong Chairman Tony Tyler said: ¡§Air Hong Kong is now set to further the development of its partnership with DHL. This aircraft order demonstrates Air Hong Kong¡¦s commitment to enhancing Hong Kong¡¦s position as Asia¡¦s leading air cargo hub, and to strengthening the scope and quality of service that we already provide DHL.¡¨
