DHL Express will gradually build up flight operations at its new EUR 300 million European air hubat Leipzig over the coming 12 months to ensure a smooth transition from its existing hub in
Brussels and to avoid the kind of operational problems that hit the opening of its US hub atWilmington two years ago, a senior manager told CEP-Research.In July, DHL handling staff from Brussels, Cologne and Britain will test loading andunloading procedures at Leipzig, Achim Zimmermann, Sales Manager West at DHL Express Germany, saidin an interview at the Transport Logistic trade fair in Munich. Leipzig will be one of three DHLExpress intercontinental air hubs alongside Wilmington and Hong Kong on opening in mid-2008.
DHL Express already operates 14 cargo planes on European overnight flights between Leipzig,the Brussels hub, its Cologne gateway and a number of Central and Eastern European destinations.These services, carrying about 160 tonnes of cargo daily, were moved from Berlin Schoenefeldairport over the last two years. The DHL hub buildings are currently under construction on a 53hectare area adjoining the extended, 3.6 km southern runway.
In the next phase, about 6-8 flights will be transferred from Cologne to the Leipzig gatewayduring the third quarter of this year, Zimmermann said. All Cologne flights are scheduled to moveto Leipzig by the end of 2007. During the first half of 2008, flights will gradually betransferred from Brussels to Leipzig.
“By August 2008 this will be complete and hub operations will start,” Zimmermann said. Aswell as DHL’s own European short-haul flights, Lufthansa Cargo will relocate its MD-11F long-haulflights operated on behalf of DHL to the new European air hub. In all, about 50 DHL cargo planesare due to operate daily at Leipzig, carrying about 2,000 tonnes of cargo.
In view of the operational difficulties at the opening of the Wilmington hub in autumn 2005when two different hubs were merged at one location, DHL Express is taking a more cautious approachthis time. “We have a back-up scenario. Cologne and Brussels will remain open as gateways. If thereare any problems at Leipzig, we can relocate immediately,” Zimmermann pointed out. “We will alwaysbe able to switch in future if there are any problems.”
In particular, DHL Express will be responsible for its own aircraft handling at Leipzig,making it independent of airport staff and creating opportunities for third-party handlingcontracts, he noted. DHL will also have its own hangar for technical maintenance.
At Leipzig, DHL Express would benefit from the proximity of DHL parcel and freight forwardingfacilities, the airport’s close geographical position to emerging markets in Central and EasternEurope, its good multi-modal infrastructure with motorway connections and a nearby railhead, andthe relocation of logistics facilities to the airport’s surrounding area, Zimmermann pointed out.
There was also ample available capacity for future expansion over the next 30 years. “NeitherFedEx nor UPS have space for significant capacity expansion at their (European hub) locations,” heclaimed.
