DHL Express today launches London’s first ever scheduled helicopter delivery service [Editor note – see below, it is NOT the first in London]

Beating congestion, DHL’s new helicopter service will significantly enhance the connection between key financial centers in the USA and the UK, in particular. It will guarantee next day delivery of urgent documents from New York, Boston and Chicago to London’s financial district, reducing the transit time to just one day.

With a daily flight connection from DHL’s Heathrow Hub to the center of London, the helicopter will bypass traffic and cut the journey time into Canary Wharf and the City of London by up to one hour. A DHL Express courier will meet the helicopter, providing final mile deliveries to financial services, consulting and legal businesses.

Greater speed and reliability

John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express Europe said: “This new service from DHL Express offers even greater speed and reliability to our customers. For the financial and professional services sector in particular, time really is money, so we are always looking for innovative, more efficient ways to move our customers’ shipments. With the first ever scheduled delivery service by helicopter in the UK market, we are demonstrating DHL’s commitment to connect UK businesses to global markets and support them in their international trade activities.”

The new service is the third helicopter to be introduced to the DHL aviation network, following successful launches of services in New York (where a 206 and a 206L are flown) and Los Angeles (with an AS355)

The DHL helicopter, a Bell 206 Jet Ranger, is operated for DHL by Heli-Charter Ltd and can transport over 300 kg of letters and packages.

Editor note –

• This service will fly from the Vanguard helipad on the Isle of Dogs. 
• Contrary to the press release, this is NOT “London’s first ever scheduled helicopter delivery service”. Not only that, it’s not DHL’s first attempt. 
  • In 1982 Star Helicopters flew G-BAZN in DHL colours from a barge helipad in central London to the Holiday Inn Hotel at Heathrow
    
  • Dollar Helicopters flew a JetRanger in red “Datapost” colours for the UK’s Post Office
  • Around the same time, Air Hanson flew a JetRanger from central London to the Hotel Ibis on Heathrow’s northern perimeter with parcels on behalf of the UK’s Post Office
    
• DHL supplied an infographic which wrongly stated this JetRanger was built in Canada.  G-SUET is a 1968 manufactured helicopter, which definitely puts its origins in Texas, not Canada, where production started in 1986