UPS and Polar to Expand Japanese Air Operations

The U.S. Departments of State and Transportation reached the agreement that will allow UPS and other air carriers to expand air operations to and from Japan. The agreement lets UPS and Polar Air Cargo, a unit of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc., to take advantage of these increased frequencies.

The UPS flights are in addition to the daily service it presently has to Tokyo and Osaka. "The new access that comes with this landmark agreement will allow UPS to better serve customers in Japan and around the world,” says UPS International president Alan Gershenhorn, “and gain an even stronger foothold in the region.”

UPS spokesman Norman Black said the new flights are expected to be added this fall. They will also allow connecting cargo service to the new UPS in Shanghai. UPS has been expanding its operations in Japan since buying out its joint-venture partner there in 2004.

In addition to an existing six weekly frequencies to Tokyo with related service to one destination beyond Japan, Polar has been granted another six frequencies to Japan, excluding Tokyo, with the right to fly to two foreign destinations beyond this new point. Including the new rights, Polar can now serve a combined total of 12 frequencies in Japan and 18 frequencies beyond. Polar will also have the latitude to choose the new destination in Japan, as well as the points outside of the country.

North Asia—particularly Korea, China and Japan—has been a significant area of development for Polar,” said Randy Clark, COO of Polar. “Now that we've been approved for additional frequencies and beyond rights to Japan, we look forward to continuing Polar's growth.”