ABX Air plans to lay off more than 1,000 employees in Wilmington beginning this week and lastingthrough August which follows thousands of job losses in the last few months due to DHL’s exit from
the US domestic market last year.The latest in the long series of job reductions, this mass layoff will further reduce ABXworkforce to about 1,300 workers, according to various US media reports.
ABX and other businesses at the Wilmington Air Park have been laying off staff since DHLExpress announced in May 2008 that it will downscale use of its services as part of its USrestructuring plans. At that time, ABX Air employed some 8,000 people in Wilmington.
The latest layoffs affect hundreds of freight sorters and loaders along with about 50 seniorequipment maintenance mechanics and property maintenance workers, and numerous supervisors andcoordinators, Wilmington News Journal reported
“Certainly this is not unexpected, but it still rocks you to the core,” Wilmington MayorDavid Raizk commented.
In April this year, DHL has ended its long-running talks with UPS over US airlift capacityand decided to move its US air gateway from Wilmington, Ohio, back to its former location ofCincinnati at Northern Kentucky International Airport in Boone County. “The changeover is scheduledto take place by the end of the month,” said John Graber, ABX Air president.
ABX Air and Astar Air Cargo that have been the principal air carriers for DHL Express’ airfreight in the US will provide air delivery services to DHL in Kentucky under continuing contracts.But in contrast to Wilmington, where the sorting operation was managed and staffed by ABX Air, DHLwill operate the Boone County hub itself, the Journal further reported.
DHL spokesman Jonathan Baker said this week that talks are continuing with state andcommunity officials over the future of the Wilmington Air Park. “The parties have all agreed not todiscuss details publicly until an agreement is concluded.”
Once it moves its hub to Kentucky, DHL will cease all operations in Wilmington, he added.
Baker said further that DHL has set a date for the transition internally but has notofficially announced it yet in case the move needs to be delayed to ensure a smooth transition. “The company stands by its previous announcement that it expects to complete the move by mid-to-latesummer.”
In November last year, DHL has announced its dramatic pullout from the US domestic expressmarket to re-focus on international shipping. At that time, ABX Air already unveiled plans todownsize by about 75% and reinvent itself as a cargo aircraft leasing company once it stops flyingfor DHL Express.
