FedEx Express has continued its worldwide expansion with the opening of a $158 million enlargementof its European air hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to increase capacity and enable further
international growth.The hub expansion, which follows the opening of its $150 million Asia Pacific hub atGuangzhou, southern China, in February this year, was jointly financed by FedEx and airportoperator Aéroports de Paris. The Paris hub opened in 1999 after a €220 million joint investment bythe two companies.
Under the enlargement, sorting space has been increased to 72,000 sqm from 49,000 sqm, andhandling capacity has risen to 61,500 documents and packages per hour from 54,000 pieces. TheFreight/Dangerous Goods area has been significantly extended from 1,400 sqm to 13,000 sqm. The hub,which has 1,900 employees, is served by 300 weekly flights, including intercontinental flightsto/from Asia and the USA, and intra-European flights through the Euro One regional network.
The extension and tenth anniversary of the hub, which is the largest FedEx facility outsidethe USA, was celebrated at an event attended by more than 300 guests.
“This is an exciting moment for Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, the largest cargo airport inEurope and the 6th largest cargo airport worldwide,” said Pierre Graff, chairman and CEO ofAéroports de Paris. “The expansion of the FedEx hub is a major development for the airport,cementing its key strategic role and further enhancing its position as the principal sorting anddistribution centre within the region.”
The expansion will further bolster efforts to develop Roissy-CDG Europe’s multimodalplatform, driving the competitiveness and appeal of the region and France in general. As a foundingmember of the CAREX project, which contemplates the development of high-speed freight trains inEurope, FedEx has demonstrated its commitment to using rail as an alternative logistics solution todeliver European express cargo, reducing noise and carbon emissions.
“This is a very proud moment for FedEx as this world-class hub allows us to offer enhancedservices to companies across Europe, linking them to the global marketplace,” said Robert W.Elliott, president, FedEx Express Europe, Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa. “The lastten years have seen impressive growth at the hub with double the volume of parcels and documentspassing through the facility. The expansion of the FedEx hub reflects our belief in the continuedgrowth of the Ile-de-France region and our commitment to playing a key role in supporting globalbusiness.”
“We would also like to celebrate the achievements of the 2,600 FedEx team members at the huband across France for their determination to deliver exceptional customer experience,” said AlainChaillé, vice president, Operations, FedEx Express Southern Europe. “Our diverse team at the hub,representing 50 nations, has delivered outstanding service over the last decade and we areconfident that they will continue to meet demanding customer expectations for many years to come.”
