Transmile 737-200 at HKG

Hong Kong’s cargo terminals are usually associated with large wide-body freighters, but it’s worth noting that several carriers fly narrow-body freighters into Hong Kong, usually carrying express cargo or regional freight. Hong Kong Airlines Cargo, (Shenzhen) Donghai Airlines, Yangtze River Express, and Transmile, seen here, use 737s, while Shanghai Airlines Cargo and UPS use 757s in addition to larger aircraft. SF Airlines uses both 737s and 757s.

Malaysia-based Transmile operates into Hong Kong on behalf of Pos Malaysia and DHL. Transmile was established in 1993 and is headquartered at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, just outside of Kuala Lumpur and some 20 miles away from the vast Kuala Lumpur International Airport (itself not actually within Kuala Lumpur but in nearby Kuala Langat district). Transmile operates a network in southeast Asia and Oceania that stretches from Auckland (via Sydney) to Chennai, and includes destinations in China (Beijing, Shenzhen, Hong Kong), Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, and a variety of domestic destinations in within Malaysia.

These destinations are served with a fleet comprised of 727-200 and 737-200 aircraft. Transmile’s fleet expanded in the mid-2000s to include a quartet of MD-11Fs for long international routes, including Los Angeles, but competition and a lack of demand saw these freighters parked by 2008, and sold to FedEx in 2011.

9M-PML (msn: 21116), captured here by ace Hong Kong photographer Christian Junker, currently is currently operated by Transmile for Gading Sari Aviation Services on contract with Pos Malaysia (Malaysia’s postal service, which also has courier and logistics components). This freighter emigrated to Malaysia from Canada in 1999, but started its life with Pacific Western Airlines of Canada in the summer of 1975, later flying for Canadian Airlines and Royal Aviation. A 737-200C, unlike nearly all of the more modern 737s that operate as freighters, this one was built with a cargo door at the factory. Transmile currently operates three 737-200s.

This photo also shows off some of Hong Kong’s ocean freight traffic. A large MSC (Genoa-based Mediterranean Shipping Company) container ship is passing a partial view of the River Trade Terminal, across the water from the airport in Tuen Mun.

We’ll be bringing you more action from Hong Kong in the coming weeks as we prepare for Cargo Facts Asia, which will take place there on April 16 & 17. We hope to see you there.

This photo comes courtesy of contributor Christian Junker.

© Photographer: Christian Junker. This photo may not be used without the express permission of Christian Junker. To see more of Christian’s excellent aviation photos, click here.