Dhl Global Forwarding announced on 21 April 2026 that it is expanding its air freight capacity between Asia and Europe with the introduction of new weekly connections between Shanghai and Leipzig and between Hong Kong and Liège. The initiative, unveiled by the Dhl Group company specialising in air and ocean freight, aims to strengthen its presence along the Asia-Europe trade corridor through the coordinated use of Dhl Aviation and Dhl Express resources. With the launch of the summer schedule, the new flights will be operated using Boeing 777F aircraft and will provide dedicated cargo capacity for Dhl Global Forwarding customers. Shipments arriving in Leipzig will then be distributed across the entire European network, leveraging the German hub’s role as a central node for Dhl Express operations. The Liège-Hong Kong service includes a stopover in Tel Aviv and integrates with the European distribution network on the return leg, ensuring operational continuity and broad geographic coverage.
According to Henk Venema, global head of air freight at Dhl Global Forwarding, the expansion of managed capacity along the Asia-Europe route responds to sustained growth in demand on this trade lane and aims to ensure greater reliability and speed. The use of controlled capacity also enables more predictable flow management, a key factor in a context marked by demand volatility and operational challenges.
The choice of hubs reflects a strategy already well established within the Group. Leipzig, thanks to its dedicated infrastructure and central position in the European network, acts as a gateway for flows from Asia, helping to manage seasonal peaks. Liège is a key node for international cargo traffic and, through its connection with Hong Kong, strengthens access to East Asian markets.
The initiative forms part of a broader integration process across Dhl Group’s divisions. Collaboration between Dhl Global Forwarding and Dhl Express allows for optimised use of air assets and improved operational flexibility, offering customers more stable solutions across the entire logistics chain. Travis Cobb, EVP Global Operations and Aviation at Dhl Express, explained that integration between the divisions helps support global trade flows through greater network resilience. In addition to strengthening the Asia-Europe corridor, Dhl plans further developments to its intercontinental network during the year, including increased cargo capacity between Southeast Asia and the United States.
