Kuala Lumpur – TNT Express has launched a dedicated B767 freighter service between India and Europe, the country’s largest trade partner. The service will run five times a week between New Delhi and TNT’s European air hub in Belgium, with a stopover in Dubai on the way back to India. The new service will enable TNT Express customers to enjoy faster transit times, as well as improved control and visibility over shipments moving between India and Europe.
The new B767 freighter service has a weekly capacity of 210 tons and reflects TNT’s commitment to improving connectivity between India and Europe.
Shipments depart from New Delhi at the end of each work day and arrive in Europe before the start of the next working day. The return flight allows TNT to collect and uplift shipments from Europe on the same day.
The introduction of the India-Europe service is part of TNT’s plan to expand its leadership position on Asia-Europe routes. TNT now operates flights to Europe from five strategic locations in Asia: New Delhi, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore.
Abhik Mitra, Managing Director of TNT India said, “TNT India has been recording year-on-year growth of more than 20 per cent in India. The addition of a dedicated TNT freighter from India will enable our customers to become even more competitive due to faster factory-to-market lead times and improved efficiency. With the frequency of our service, it will now take just one day for shipments to reach Europe from New Delhi.”
As of 2009, trade between Malaysia and India totaled $7.3 billion with a recent bilateral agreement signed expected to boost annual bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2015. India was Malaysia's 13th-largest trading partner in 2010, and Malaysian authorities said Indian investments in Malaysia totaled $15.9 million in 2010.
Gerry Power, Managing Director, TNT Express Malaysia and Brunei said, “A dedicated air route connecting India to the rest of Europe and vice versa supported by the strong European Road Network is the perfect solution for India businesses looking to diversify into Europe and European businesses looking to enter the great Indian Sub Continent”.