The deal fulfils part of CFL’s strategy of creating stronger ties outside of the EU and meets growing demand for courier capacity between the UK and Asia Pacific.
The two companies have completed data exchange tests and CFL can receive inbound shipments with export handling scheduled to start next month (August 2024).
CFL says few airlines in Asia Pacific offer courier services so the Thai Airways partnership has potential for businesses in Asia looking to trade with the UK.
Matthew Ware, CEO at CFL, says, “Thai Airways is already very strongly positioned to service the needs of local and regional businesses. The addition of a courier product increases their global reach by adding fast, reliable delivery of e-commerce products into the UK.”
Research from the Social Market Foundation estimates that there are around 70,000 UK businesses who could sell online but do not, and if these businesses traded online globally, they could boost the UK economy by £9.3 billion.
Ware says, “For overseas businesses, relying on British components or finished goods, speed and reliability are critical. Therefore deals like this will create a network that e-commerce exporters can exploit, giving them wider choice and greater certainty over service consistency.”
IATA says 80% of e-commerce goods by value travel by air, and airfreight only accounts for 0.5% of the UK’s international movements by weight but 45% by value, according to a report by the Freight Transport Association.