UPS starts Shenzhen-Sydney cargo flights

UPS has launched a new flight route connecting its intra-Asia hub in Shenzhen, China, to Sydney, Australia, significantly reducing delivery times for customers across the Asia-Pacific region.

The maiden flight, 5X-151, departed from Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport at 4:23 AM (UTC+8) and arrived at Sydney Airport at 3:55 PM (UTC+10), after an 8-hour and 33-minute flight. The return flight, 5X-152, took off from Sydney for Shenzhen at 8:40 PM and landed at 2:56 AM the next day.

N311UP, a 27.5 year old Boeing 767-34AF(ER), flew the inaugural flights.

Businesses in major Asian economies, including China, Japan, South Korea, and several Southeast Asian nations, can now expect next-day delivery to Australia for shipments picked up between Wednesday and Friday.

Similarly, Australian businesses sending packages to select destinations in Asia and Europe can also take advantage of next-day delivery for Friday pickups.

While the improved delivery times apply to most of Australia, services to and from Western Australia are not yet included in the expedited schedule.

“From both the import and export perspective, most of Australia’s top trading partners are in Asia Pacific, so we’re delighted to be able to offer our customers faster delivery times across the region,” said Wilfredo Ramos, President of UPS Asia Pacific. “Faster delivery can make all the difference for businesses looking for a competitive edge.”

This expansion comes amidst anticipated growth in sectors like high-tech, manufacturing, and healthcare across the Asia-Pacific region.

UPS aims to position itself as a reliable logistics partner for businesses seeking to capitalize on these emerging opportunities.

The new flight route is the latest in a series of investments UPS has made to strengthen its network and services in the Asia-Pacific region.

Recent enhancements include facility upgrades and service expansions in Singapore, Japan, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

Recently, UPS announced a significant expansion of its operations in the Philippines, specifically at Clark International Airport.

According to UPS, a new state-of-the-art facility will be built at Clark, as part of a string of investments amounting to USD 250 million for the development of its facilities in the Asia-Pacific region.

The construction of the Philippine hub is set to begin in February 2025 and is targeted to process its first pieces of cargo by late 2026.