DHL Global Forwarding launches Chitose–Hong Kong charter service

In order to serve scallop producers in the region of Hokkaido, Japan, DHL Global Forwarding (GH) has launched a thrice-weekly charter from Chitose in Japan to Hong Kong. Harvesting for scallops in Hokkaido typically begins in June and ends in October. The charter is the only direct airfreight service from Hokkaido’s main international airport to Hong Kong since airlines halted international flights from the airport as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since authorities had imposed virus-related travel restrictions, exporters from Hokkaido were unable to fly scallops and other perishables to Hong Kong, which is the top importer of Japanese agricultural and marine products and also a gateway to mainland China. According to DHL GF, scallops make up the largest portion of seafood that it ships out of Japan and primarily from Hokkaido.