DHL Announces Faster Transit Times to Asia Pacific With New Direct Routes; The Number One Choice for Air Express in Asia Offers Enhanced Door to Door Service.

Business Editors/Travel Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 2001

DHL Worldwide Express, the world's largest and most experienced air express network, announced today it will offer faster transit times and improved delivery options to Asia's top cities, reinforcing DHL's leading market position in Asia Pacific.

Starting July 16th, DHL will leverage new cargo routes directly from its U.S. hub at the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) benefiting customers East of Denver with package delivery to Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul. Customers with packages from Denver westward will continue to enjoy DHL's superior service through its San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) gateways.

The new expedited service is part of an alliance with Northwest Airlines Cargo (NWA). Under a multi-year agreement, NWA will launch service from Cincinnati, DHL's hub location, to Asia, using two newly-acquired Boeing 747s. DHL will have priority access to block capacity on these aircraft. The NWA freighters will depart from Asia, Monday through Friday, arriving the same day at the CVG airport at 11:35pm. The aircraft will turn and depart for Asia, Tuesday through Saturday at 5:00am, for next day arrival.

"DHL is the number one choice for air express services in Asia Pacific with approximately 34% market share and 29 years of experience in the region," said Jeffrey Corbett, senior vice president, DHL. "In terms of importance, Asia generates more international trade activities for the U.S. than any other region in the world. Our alliance with Northwest Airlines Cargo is an important part of DHL's on-going initiatives in this key region."

Voted "Best Air Express Company" in Asia for 15 consecutive years by the Asian Freight Industry Awards, DHL has built the most comprehensive express delivery infrastructure supported by the greatest number of personnel, vehicles, hubs and service centers of any express firm in Asia. Unlike competitors, DHL is uniquely equipped to service the region since it acts as its own licensed customs broker from most of its gateways. This capability speeds delivery and preserves the integrity of shipments through handling solely by DHL personnel.

"This alliance with DHL enables us to participate in the international express business, the most attractive and fastest-growing segment of the air freight industry," says Jim Friedel, President of Northwest Airlines Cargo. "Being a wholesale partner with an international express company like DHL is a great addition to our strategy of partnering with freight forwarders, and enables us to open a new gateway in Cincinnati. This will cut transit time by as much as a day from Asia to destinations in the Midwest, the heart of U.S. manufacturing and distribution."

Global shippers and time-sensitive industries will benefit from DHL's new Asia transit times, including fashion/apparel; computer software and hardware; technology; telecommunications; medical equipment; pharmaceutical; auto; machinery and equipment.

In almost all DHL gateways, the company's comprehensive door-to-door air express service includes: imaging technology to store digital images for quicker customs clearance; pre-clearance of informal shipments prior to flight arrival and bonded DHL warehouses with DHL employees.

About Northwest Airlines Cargo

Northwest is the largest freighter aircraft operator among U.S. combination airlines, deploying twelve 747-200 freighters exclusively to the Pacific. These freighters, and the cargo capacity of Northwest's extensive Pacific passenger network, make Northwest one of the largest providers of capacity to support Asia-U.S. trade.

About DHL

DHL Worldwide Express is the pioneer and market leader of the global air express industry with an international network linking more than 80,000 destinations serving 635,000 cities in 228 countries and employing over 69,000 people. More information regarding DHL's products and services can be found at www.dhl.com.