Hactl launches SuperLink China Direct, welcomes Cathay Pacific as first customer

26th July 2000
Hong Kong

Hong Kong, 26 July 2000 - Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl) today launched SuperLink China Direct, a unique new integrated air cargo service that uses a high-speed sealed trucking service to transfer air cargo between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport.

At the same time, Hactl welcomed Cathay Pacific Airways as SuperLink China Direct's first customer.

The new service will begin on 2 August and will be operated by Hong Kong Air Cargo Industry Services Limited (Hacis), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hactl. SuperLink China Direct gives a full range of cargo handling services, including warehouse storage, physical handling services, documentation, customs clearance and on-time delivery. Initially, Hacis will operate three services a week, and will increase services in response to growth in demand.

"After over a year of preparation, Hacis in conjunction with Sinotrans Guangzhou Company will be able to provide an expedited service via a sealed truck to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport where Chinese customs clearance procedures will take place," said Mark Ashall, Managing Director of Hacis.

"The simplified customs clearance is a breakthrough for cargo that passes through Shenzhen by road," said Chen Hai Ping, General Manager of Sinotrans Guangzhou - Company. "Sinotrans is delighted to work with Hacis in developing such a new service. We believe the new initiative will enhance Southern China's logistics services development and its important role as a domestic air cargo hub."

"The initiative will greatly speed up the transfer of cargo through the Pearl River Delta and increase the value of HKIA as the region's most effective international trans-shipment hub," added Mr Ashall, "We are confident that SuperLink China Direct will exploit the combined strengths of Chek Lap Kok and Baiyun to encourage more airlines to use this unique two-hub combination to move goods between China and the world."

Cathay Pacific's General Manager Cargo Kenny Tang said: "We are fully committed to enhancing Hong Kong's position as the world's leading international air cargo hub. We are therefore delighted to be the first customer for the new SuperLink China Direct service which will provide faster and more efficient cargo links between Mainland China and the rest of the world via Hong Kong."

• an air-road service to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport;
• an air-road-air service via Baiyun to other Mainland airports;
• and charter truck service around the Pearl River Delta region.

The air-road service connects destinations around the world directly to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, with full customs clearance being necessary only on arrival at Baiyun. Hacis will act on behalf of airlines to collect cargo at Hactl's SuperTerminal 1 in Hong Kong, immediately placing it on dedicated trucks that will be sealed at SuperTerminal 1 and at the Huanggang border check-point. The cargo will then be delivered to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport where a consignee conducts once-only customs clearance for the shipment. The air-road-air service moves a step further by arranging for safe and speedy delivery of cargo following customs clearance in Guangzhou to a range of destinations served by China Southern Airlines (CZ) around Mainland China. This will allow international airlines which lack any rights to provide direct services to domestic Chinese cities to provide an extended network of safe, speedy and reliable services to their customers.

SuperLink China Direct will also include a charter truck service taking cargo directly from Hong Kong International Airport to a final consignee in the Pearl River Delta region, for example, a factory in Dongguan. For this service, the imported goods will undergo normal customs procedures at the border control point.

In line with the launch of SuperLink China Direct, Hactl has enhanced features in its market-leading computerised air cargo handling system, COSAC (Community System for Air Cargo), which was initially developed in 1976. Customers can get updated cargo status through COSAC, Hactl's website, as well as through HACTEL - an automated telephone enquiry service. COSAC also has an automatic notification function that will inform registered consignees of the arrival details of a shipment by fax or email which will be extended to the China Direct service later in the year.

Cathay Pacific is one of the world's leading carriers of air cargo, being ranked number 10 in the world in 1999 according to Air Transport World. Cargo accounts for about 30 per cent of the airline's total revenue. Cathay Pacific owns a fleet of 65 wide-bodied aircraft, including nine Boeing 747 freighters. To meet expected growth in demand for air cargo, the airline has placed orders for three new Boeing 747-400 freighters for delivery in September 2000, April 2001, and August 2001.

SuperLink China Direct
Fast Facts

SuperLink China Direct truck schedule for air-road service and air-road-air service

* Truck type subject to booking volume. For shipment over 5 tonnes, Hacis can arrange additional truck service on any delivery dates.