DHL critical of Belgian government proposal on noisy night flights
Belgium_International courier DHL criticized a Belgian government proposal for dealing with noisy night flights over the capital as unfeasible Tuesday, and threatened to move its European hub and thousands of jobs out of the country.
The German-based parcel delivery company told Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt that if it’s not allowed to fly at least 16 more intercontinental flights out of Brussels airport, the company will be forced to downgrade operations in Belgium and move its hub elsewhere.
Under a government compromise being studied, DHL would be allocated four extra night flights until it takes action to reduce noise over the densely populated capital region.
The company would be asked to upgrade or renew its McDonnell Douglas MD11 aircraft by 2011 or buy other quieter jets.
DHL said such a plan was not viable.
“If we want to have our intercontinental hub, we need to have planes that can fly intercontinental flights,” said DHL spokesman Xavier De Buck. He said the company only uses two MD11s at its Brussels hub.
He added there was “no alternative” to using the MD11 on long-haul flights. “It’s the quietest of its kind,” De Buck said.
De Buck said the government had not raised the option of using hush kits on the DHL jets.
The debate on the expansion of DHL’s Brussels hub has dragged on for weeks.
Unless the company gets additional night flights, it might well pull out of Brussels and move to either Leipzig, Germany, or Vatry, France.
The regional governments of Brussels and Flanders object to increasing night flights over the capital.
Unions fear that if DHL leaves, other companies that rely on its operations might leave as well.
The company, owned by Germany’s Deutsche Post World Net, provides direct and indirect employment for about 5,800 people.
Tuesday’s critical remarks from DHL put Verhofstadt in a tough political position as he meets again with leaders from the city of Brussels and the regional Flemish government.
Both local governments, which have the power to block any deal, have so far balked at the compromise offer drafted by Verhofstadt, complaining it does little to address widespread anger over noisy night flights.
“I will do my utmost to make sure an agreement can be reached,” Verhofstadt told VRT television on Monday. He said he will not allow too many new flights over the capital and outlying areas, but also wants to keep DHL in Belgium to save thousands of jobs.
DHL told Verhofstadt that 1,800 jobs would be cut if its plan to expand its hub at Brussels was not supported by the national government and regional authorities, which must also give their approval.
DHL officials were frustrated that Verhofstadt has so far failed to present the company with a single offer that’s also backed by the regions.
“We saw the compromise, but that still does not have the support of the regional authorities,” said Roland Steisel of DHL’s European office.
