Leipzig hub to boost AP-Europe connectivity

Asia - Coupled with the company's AeroLogic partnership with Lufthansa, DHL's new Leipzig hub is expected to facilitate trade flow between Europe and Asia.

The approximately 300 million euro (US$470 million) investment by parent company Deutsch Post World Net (DPWN) is strategically situated to provide direct North-South and East-West access to Europe, and connects both established and emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia.

Scott Price, CEO of DHL Express Europe said: "Due to the relocation of our European super-hub, we are now able to offer minimised shipment running time and also offer our newest prime express services on more trade lanes than ever before, with improved access to Eastern Europe and Asia."

In an email interview with ProcurementAsia magazine, John Mullen, CEO of DHL Express said the company currently uses Lufthansa Cargo for connections to Europe from Asia Pacific. "The new Leipzig Hub helps to provide greater connectivity between Europe and Asia Pacific, which is further strengthened when the new AeroLogic partnership with Lufthansa takes off next year," he said.

"The AeroLogic partnership will boost trade flows between the two regions, providing customers with greater connections to more destinations in Asia Pacific from DHL's European Hub in Leipzig."

The 50-50 partnership was announced in January this year, with a leasing agreement for the first eight Boeing 777-200LRFs, scheduled for delivery in 2009. Four more freighters are expected to follow in 2010, a further two in 2011 and a reserve aircraft will be added to the fleet in 2012.

In addition to the Lufthansa Cargo, DHL utilises over 800 commercial flights daily in Asia Pacific, Mullen said.