DHL today officially inaugurated its new-look Americas air hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky(CVG) airport after a four-year $105 million expansion programme to increase capacity for growing
volumes.DHL Express has used CVG as its main hub in North America since 2009 when the formerWilmington hub was closed down as part of the withdrawal from the US domestic express business. Thecompany then expanded capacity at CVG in several phases, culminating in today’s inauguration.
The enhancements include a new 180,000 square foot (17,930 sqm) sorting facility specificallydesigned to accommodate larger express shipments; an expanded south ramp for additional wide-bodyaircraft; an employee and pilot building; and a facility-wide information technology upgrade.
DHL Express uses CVG as its main hub for international flights to and from the US as well asfor connecting feeder services across the USA. DHL said last year that the hub, with more than2,000 employees, is served by about 40 international flights daily and handles about 90 per cent ofits international volume that enters the USA, with more than two million international shipmentsper month destined to the USA, Canada, Mexico and Latin America.
“The completion of the CVG hub is a further milestone in the continuous expansion of ourinternational express network. We are growing, building for the future and providing US companieswith the logistics support they need to succeed globally,” said Frank Appel, CEO Deutsche Post DHL,at the inauguration ceremony.
Stephen Fenwick, CEO, DHL Express Americas, added: “Our investments in the DHL CVG hub enableus to respond more quickly and effectively to the growing international activity we see, especiallyamong small and mid-size businesses. DHL aims to be an invaluable resource this important businesssegment can depend on to expand and grow in an increasingly global environment.”
The company recently launched new direct flights between CVG and Japan and increased capacityinto Australia to improve transit times on key trade lanes connecting Asia, the U.S. and LatinAmerica, as well as expand intra-Asia connectivity.
The other major DHL global air hubs are at Leipzig, Germany, and Hong Kong, backed up byregional hubs such as the North Asia hub at Shanghai that opened last year.
DHL’s investment at CVG was welcomed by local politicians. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshearstated: “DHL Express is such a valuable resource for our state, not only enhancing our stronglogistics network for international trade, but also for the Northern Kentucky community itself,which has benefited from the company’s continued investment and development. DHL is an exemplarypartner for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and that partnership hascreated economic growth now and for years to come.”
