Increasing trade between Hong Kong and Europe has prompted KLM Cargo to boost its capacity by 90 per cent with two newly purchased B747-400 extended range freighters.
The Dutch airline began operating its first weekly Hong Kong to Amsterdam service last Sunday after the first aircraft was delivered.
The frequency of the service will soon be lifted to twice a week.
'We will increase our capacity by 90 per cent after we begin two freighter services a week from mid-May,' said KLM Cargo's east Asia sales director Corneel Koster. 'We hope business will increase by 90 per cent as well.'
The airline will receive its second freighter next month and a third in March next year, when the service will be increased to thrice a week.
Mr Koster said KLM Cargo had seen continuous growth in demand for exports from Hong Kong to Europe.
KLM's daily combi service from Hong Kong to Amsterdam, which can carry 35 to 40 tonnes of cargo a time, had been full year-round, he said.
