Merger brings better service

By Graeme Kennedy

Friday 5th September 2003

New Zealand shippers will have an enhanced service throughout North America following the merger of DHL Express and US rival Airborne Inc, DHL New Zealand general manager Phil Rountree says.

DHL has bought all of Ai rborne's ground facilities globally and is awaiting government approvals to acquire its aviation assets.

Airborne has 22,000 employees, 15,000 delivery vehicles and 116 aircraft for its operations worldwide and in the US where it is the third-largest overnight parcel carrier behind UPS and FedEx.

DHL is the biggest international express delivery company with 70,000 staff and 271 aircraft including a Boeing 727 freighter it has operated five nights a week on the Tasman for the past 12 years.

However, it has less than 2% of the US domestic market and Mr Rountree said the Airborne merger would give it huge strength and enable New Zealand customers to ship goods with a single company to almost anywhere in the US.

Airborne does not operate to New Zealand but its office of 12 staff acts as a freight forwarder and provides an air express service on other carriers.

The two businesses would be merged in New Zealand under the DHL brand.

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