Central Airlines (I9, Haikou) has taken delivery of the two B777-200Fs sourced from DHL Air (D0, Nottingham East Midlands) as part of their new partnership with DHL Express, ch-aviation research has revealed.

ADS-B data shows that in September, G-DHMA (msn 66079) and G-DHMB (msn 66080) were ferried from Manchester International and Nottingham East Midlands to Shanghai Pudong, respectively. Both operated their first flights under the DHL code on October 10 and 12, flying from Shanghai to Nagoya Chubu.

Both freighters were seen in Japan still flying with their British registrations. However, while they have since been removed from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) registry, their new Chinese registrations have not yet been revealed by China’s Civil Aviation Administration.

Central Airlines signed a letter of intent with DHL Express in July to operate two B777-200Fs on behalf of the global integrator, marking the first time DHL has handed over its aircraft to a Chinese cargo carrier.

The ch-aviation fleets module shows Central Airlines also flies three B737-300(F)s, five B737-800(BCF)s, and four B777-200Fs.