DHL Express is planning to invest $46 million in a further expansion of its US air hub atCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) over the coming year to increase capacity
in response to growing volumes. More than 280 new jobs would be created.The move follows the original $40 million expansion in 2010-11, which included widening theexisting aircraft parking apron, adding nine new aircraft gates to park additional wide-bodyaircraft and various facility improvements.
Under the latest expansion proposal, DHL Express would construct a 193,000 sq ft (17,900 sqm)sorting facility connected to its existing main building, make improvements to existing buildingsand purchase additional material handling equipment.
“The successful realignment of DHL Express to focus exclusively on international services andgrowth in the company’s import and export business requires DHL to continue to adjust itsoperations to meet the growing demands from international shipping customers,” DHL Americasspokeswoman Bea Garcia told CEP-Research. “Additional infrastructure and efficiency is needed atthe CVG Hub in order to increase capacity to handle continued growth.”
DHL Express is awaiting approval of the project by Boone County and the State of Kentuckyofficials. If approved, DHL would begin construction at CVG and hopes to have the new sort buildingoperational by November 2012, she said. All improvements would be completed by March2013.
As part of the expansion, DHL expects to hire an additional 120 full time employees and 163part-time positions over the next 14 months. More than 2,000 people work for DHL at the CVG hub,which handles about 90% of the DHL international volume that enters the USA. About 40 internationalflights operate to and from the airport daily.
DHL Express relocated to CVG from its former US air hub at Wilmington following the closure ofthe US domestic express business and the subsequent renewed focus on international express in theUSA.
