In a sharp increase of its intra-Asia operations, DHL will start overnight express service between Tokyo and Shanghai using dedicated space on a Northwest Airlines freighter.

Northwest will operate the flight five times weekly between Tokyo Narita International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport with a 747-200 for DHL.

The increase comes as DHL is expanding its operations at Pudong, a major location marking China's ascendance as an air freight trading power in Asia.

"Trading volumes between Japan and China reached $213 billion in 2004, and Japanese exports to China rose for the sixth straight year last year," said Wu Dongming, managing director of DHL Sinotrans.