Federal Express (FedEx) intends to double its air services between China and North America by early next year and will step-up its traffic between China and the rest of Asia.
It will push for more flights into Hong Kong and China to capitalise on growing express freight service demand on the mainland.
The capacity of the Chek Lap Kok airport could help FedEx expand its use of Hong Kong as a southern China hub beyond 1997.
FedEx Asia-Pacific division senior vice-president Michael Ducker said the company had rights to operate up to four flights a week between North America and China.
It was operating only two services while building up the North America to China route it launched in March, but this would change as soon as the economies dictated and when FedEx had the planes to do it. He expected this to happen by December or early next year.
He said FedEx was keen to add more air services to and through China, but had no immediate plans to negotiate additional frequencies.
Mr Ducker announced the extension of the air express operator's AsiaOne network into China by linking Shanghai and Beijing to FedEx's Asia-Pacific hub at Subic Bay in the Philippines.