Austrian Post is planning to set up an express business in its home market under the nametrans-o-flex Austria, according to local media reports. But suggestions of an alliance with DHL
Express in Austria have been denied.The postal group’s chairman Anton Wais told Austrian media that a new express company fornext-day deliveries would be set up and would start offering services in September. It wouldoperate as “trans-o-flex Austria”, taking the name of the German express company acquired in 2006as a platform to expand into the B2B express and parcels market.
Wais denied media reports that Austrian Post was in talks with DHL Express over a possiblecooperation in Austria. But he commented: “Our condition is that they give up their business here.No one is ready to do that.” DHL Express Austria is loss-making, according to Der Standard.
The move follows the loss of major B2C customers to new rival Hermes Logistik and is part ofAustria Post’s strategy of growing its parcels and logistics business. In addition to thetrans-o-flex acquisition, the postal group has bought several small companies in Central andEastern Europe and aims to position itself as a “local integrator”.
Meanwhile, trans-o-flex chief Klaus Heinz is seen as the favourite for the new position ofAustrian Post board member with responsible for express and parcels activities, theWirtschaftsBlatt reported. A decision is due in February.
Separately, Austrian Post announced yesterday that it had won a contract to provide logisticsservices, including delivery of 6.3 million telephone books and other products of publisher HeroldBusiness Data.
