Brussels national airport remains as regional hub for DHL

Brussels National Airport Remains as Regional Hub for DHL

No Political Consensus on Growth Scenario

The letter of 19 October signed by the three governments and the ‘Federal Compromise’ of 30 th September regrettably do not allow DHL to create an intercontinental hub at Brussels National Airport. The political consensus that was needed for DHL to further grow at the airport in Belgium could not be found. Until 2008, the current business activities at Brussels National Airport will remain stable. The company will continue its assessment of the remaining options for expansion: Leipzig (Germany) and Vatry (France).

DHL regrets that despite the intensive involvement of the Federal Government and major efforts by DHL, no official nor adequate proposal has been sent to the company’s management. This will prevent DHL from implementing its long-term expansion plan at Brussels National Airport and from creating an intercontinental hub.

DHL’s customers and its worldwide growing business urgently demand an expansion of the Brussels’ hub activities. “We had a vision of making Brussels National Airport the most modern and state-of-the-art hub of our global logistics network. However, we have now reached the point where we have to realise that there is no political support for the DHL project for its new intercontinental hub in Belgium”, says Peter Kruse, CEO DHL Express Europe.

As DHL has been the employer with the highest record of job creation for several successive years, the company really deplores that it is not possible to create an extra 1.400 jobs at Brussels National Airport.

Since January DHL has tried everything in its power to enable the Government to develop that proposal. Peter Kruse: “We feel sorry but understand and respect the position of the involved Governments. We thank Prime Minister Verhofstadt and the other parties for their involvement and continuous efforts to make this considerable investment possible in Brussels. We will now focus on continuing DHL’s operations at the airport between now and 2008 and on the regional operations thereafter.”

With regard to the current activities at Brussels National Airport, DHL’s business will continue ‘as usual’. However, from 2008 onwards, DHL would relocate part of its activities to another location. This would partly affect employees of the hub and of the company airline. However, the other activities, such as the coordination center, the ground express, logistics and forwarding companies of DHL will not be affected. DHL will remain an important employer in Belgium.

DHL management will continue to work in close collaboration with employee representatives (unions and Works Councils) on appropriate joint solutions for all envisaged impacted employees. The DHL management will follow all legal Information & Consultation obligations. Key stakeholders, such as customers, critical suppliers and the airport authorities, will be briefed about the intention of DHL.