Belgian PM writes to DHL to demand fleet upgrade at Brussels airport

Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt has written to express courier company DHL to demand assurances that its air fleet will be modernised if it extends its activities at Brussels airport, Belgian daily Le Soir newspaper reported, citing the prime minister.

Talks between Belgian authorities and DHL over the expansion of Brussels Zaventum airport into DHL’s regional hub have stalled over the disturbance to local residents caused by an increase in night flights.

The main stumbling block, which the federal government hopes is the key to a settlement, is the modernisation of DHL’s fleet of planes to ensure quieter models are used when landing after-dark, Le Soir said.

Verhofstadt has written to DHL, a unit of Deutsche Post AG, to ask for ‘clear commitments’ that ‘intercontinental flights leaving from Zaventum from 2011 will be done with quieter planes like Boeing’s 777 and not by the MD11 used presently’, Le Soir reported.

DHL has been accused by officials from Brussels of backtracking on assurances given that its fleet will be upgraded with quieter planes.

The talks between DHL and the Belgian government have reached a stalemate as the Brussels regional authorities remain determined to protect local residents under the flight path, while the Flemish regional government is pushing hard for a deal, keen to see the extra investment and jobs.

Le Soir previously estimated the expansion to be worth between 5,400 to 9,600 jobs, although the company has refused to comment.

DHL is also considering Vatry in France or Leipzig in Germany as possible locations for its new distribution centre, which will be capable of handling 3,000 tonnes of freight per night by 2012.