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DHL AIRWAYS TO RE-BRAND AS ASTAR AIR CARGO
New owners to change name and put ASTAR Air Cargo on a path toward becoming a global cargo airlift leader
For Immediate Release
Miami, (May 27, 2003) — DHL Airways today announced that the Miami-based
cargo airline is launching a re-branding program, and changing its name to ASTAR
(pronounced A-Star) AIR CARGO, INC. The re-branding will commence immediately and
the name change will become effective upon completion of the acquisition of DHL
Airways by a U.S. investor group led by Chairman and CEO John Dasburg. In the
coming months, the charter cargo airline will incorporate the ASTAR name and logo
throughout all of its marketing and operations functions.
While ASTAR AIR CARGO will continue to concentrate on providing high quality,
reliable and on-time contract service for its largest customer, DHL Worldwide
Express, the name change will reinforce the reality that ASTAR is not a corporate
affiliate of DHL Worldwide Express, and does not intend to confine its commercial
activities to servicing its contract with DHL Worldwide Express.
Dasburg said the company name change further demonstrates the commitment of the
carrier's new ownership toward putting the airline on a path toward becoming a
global air cargo charter leader. "The leadership of ASTAR AIR CARGO is delivering
on the promise of positioning the airline for future growth," said Dasburg.
On May 21, 2003, a U.S. investor group led by Dasburg announced that it was
purchasing all outstanding shares of DHL Airways, with the expectation that the
transaction will be completed by June 30. At the time of the announcement, the
Dasburg group also announced that it intended to re-brand and change the name of
the carrier in the near future. With today's exciting announcement of the pending
re-branding and name change to ASTAR AIR CARGO, the Dasburg-led management team
is demonstrating that it is moving with speed and determination to deliver on its
vision.
Dasburg emphasized to DHL Airways' nearly 1,000 employees that the new ownership
and management of the airline are committed to action. "To the dedicated men and
women of this airline, I hope this swift re-branding and name change to ASTAR AIR
CARGO will demonstrate that 'promises made are promises kept,'" said Dasburg.
ASTAR AIR CARGO will inherit a venerable heritage, as DHL Airways is one of the
oldest and most reliable companies in the air freight business. The cargo
airline, which maintains an airline hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
International Airport, was founded over 30 years ago in San Francisco and employs
nearly 1,000 Americans. The airline operates 40 aircraft in the United States or
abroad for the United States Air Force, and was actively engaged in providing
service to the U.S. Department of Defense during the Iraqi conflict. The airline
currently serves the U.S. military with missions to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany and other military
bases around the world. The company is completing its move to Miami, Florida.
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