DHL Express begins weekly Bahrain–Johannesburg freighter route

DHL Express has begun operating a direct freighter service between Bahrain and Johannesburg, the company's first direct flight connecting its Middle Eastern and sub-Saharan African networks.

The weekly service is flown with a Boeing 767 freighter into OR Tambo International Airport. According to the company, the route adds inbound and outbound capacity for South Africa and neighbouring countries through its Johannesburg hub, and improves its ability to move heavier shipments.

DHL said the link is intended to support trade between Africa and the Gulf, naming healthcare, technology, manufacturing and cross-border e-commerce as the sectors it expects to serve. The company also described the route as a response to supply chains diversifying away from established trade corridors.

Bahrain connects Johannesburg to the rest of DHL's aviation network, including hubs in Hong Kong, Leipzig and Cincinnati. The company said South Africa is an increasingly important market for global trade, with Johannesburg acting as a gateway for its regional operations.