DHL has upgraded its uplift capacity on the Hong Kong-Shanghai segment by 35 percent in response to the tremendous growth in demand for express services in Asia.

Since mid-June, the five-times-weekly Hong Kong-Shanghai service, previously operated by a Dragonair A300B4, has been replaced by a Cathay Pacific-operated service with an Air Hong Kong Airbus A300-600F. The freighter, with a capacity of 47 tons, represents an increase in payload capacity of almost 35 percent; up from a previous 35 tons. DHL last upgraded the payload capacity on this route in June 2004, about a year after the service was first launched, in response to continuously increasing demand and surging intra-Asia shipment volumes.

DHL's adherence to its corporate values weighed heavily in the company's recent decision to curtail cigarette shipments to individual consumers. An internal analysis of regulatory issues also led to proactive discussions involving Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's office, resulting in a collaborative agreement to curtail cigarette deliveries to consumers across the United States.

Taking a proactive stance on the cigarette shipping issue is clearly in alignment with one of DHL's key corporate values: To Act with Integrity.  To act with integrity - internally and externally - shapes the way the company works by examining its in-house processes and its conduct toward customers, business partners and the general public. By taking a proactive approach to prevent delivery of cigarettes to individuals nationwide, DHL has adhered to this key corporate value and has made clear that it does not want to be affiliated with illegal cigarette trafficking.

As the global leader in the express delivery industry, DHL recognizes that it is held to high standards in its business practices and the company requires the same of its vendors, employees and business partners.  DHL has consistently taken a leadership role and facilitated the establishment of policies with governmental agencies worldwide to ensure that safety and security are paramount in shipping activities impacting millions of customers around the globe. Company efforts to address cigarette shipments with the New York State Attorney General are an extension of these commitments.

DHL entered into discussions with New York Attorney General's office as cooperative partners in an attempt to address two basic issues: to curtail possible illegal shipments of cigarettes to minors, and to allay the cigarette tax evasion concerns of law enforcement organizations.  Prior to discussions about DHL's cooperation with the Attorney General's office on cigarette policy, DHL's leadership came to a decision that shipments of cigarettes to individual consumers did not factor into its long-term business strategy. It is however, company policy to continue cigarette shipments to properly licensed and law-abiding commercial establishments, as these transactions readily conform to legal mandates and form a part of legitimate interstate commerce.

Under an agreement with New York Atty. Gen. Eliot Spitzer, DHL becomes the first major shipping company to agree to a ban. "We hope other shippers will follow DHL's lead and refuse to do business with Internet and mail order cigarette retailers who routinely flout the law," Spitzer said in a statement.

For years, DHL and the American Red Cross have worked together to provide much-needed disaster relief support to people across the globe. Building on this established relationship, the American Red Cross approached DHL earlier this year to request assistance in supporting flood relief efforts in Guyana.

Continuous rainfall that began in late December 2004 and persisted throughout much of January 2005 resulted in more than 42 inches of rain and some of the heaviest flooding in Guyana in more than a century. The government of Guyana declared several densely populated regions, including areas around the capital of Georgetown, to be disaster areas. It is estimated that more than 120,000 people in Guyana were affected. Although the rain eased in February and most flood waters receded from all previously affected areas, heavy rain fell again in April, further affecting some communities.

As Guyana struggled to recover from nature's brutal events in early 2005, DHL helped the American Red Cross deliver supplies for the medium-term assistance phase of this disaster, which helped relief agency activities through the country's rainy summer season. During this phase, the American Red Cross focused on building the capacity of the Guyana Red Cross and vulnerable communities with community-based disaster preparedness and first aid. DHL's donation of free shipping ensured that the American Red Cross was able to provide 1,210 much-needed first-aid kits to the Guyana Red Cross to support these activities.

"The American Red Cross relies on the generosity of individuals and corporations to carry out its humanitarian efforts overseas.  We would not have been able to deliver these first aids kits without the support of DHL. The collaboration between the American Red Cross and DHL is an excellent example of how our combined efforts can make a difference to those in need," said Lauri Rhinehart, director, Disaster Fundraising for the American Red Cross.