TNT Express to invest “tens of millions” in Liege hub expansion
TNT Express has revealed plans to invest “tens of millions” of euros in expanding its flagship hub in Liege, Belgium. The expansion would increase the 75,000 square metre hub’s sorting capacity by 50%, and improve health and safety for the 1,500 staff based there.
The company said today that work will begin in 2014 for completion in 2016.
TNT Express said the project is subject to consultation with works councils, but form part of its strategic effort to increase operational performance and customer satisfaction.
New shipping sorting systems will be fitted to boost processing speed and capacity, including automated handling systems for smaller parcels and documents.
Cargo screening activities will be centralised with the company investing in additional x-ray machines to scan the growing number of ground shipments coming through its European road network.
TNT Express said today: “For customers, the investment will mean shorter handling times for export goods and urgent deliveries, as well as better handling of fragile items. The expected operational benefits for TNT Express include the elimination of bottlenecks, the possibility to accommodate an increase in volumes and a reduced cost per unit.”
The Liege hub has been the main air hub for TNT in Europe since 1998, and currently sees about 40 aircraft and 125 trucks arriving each night. The hub connects to 65 destinations by air, and hundreds more by road since it is connected to the European Road Network.
TNT Airways
Meanwhile, TNT Express poured cold water on reports that Qatar Airways is in talks to buy a sizable stake in its TNT Airways, which is based in Liege.
Dutch and German media reported last week that the Qatari national airline is looking for a 49% stake in TNT’s cargo air operation, as a way to expand in Europe. Reports suggested Belgian investors taking on the remaining 51% of shares so that TNT Airways can maintain its access to European airports.
Talks about some kind of cooperation or alliance between TNT Airways and Qatar have been ongoing for two years according to the media reports.
But TNT Express stated that the reports contained “errors and unsubstantiated assumptions”.
The company said it regularly talked to airlines and worked with them on certain routes in order to optimise its transport network as part of a global procurement policy. “There is nothing to report,” the company said regarding the talks with Qatar Airways.
TNT Airways had been slated for sale in 2012 as part of efforts to placate regulators in the attempt by UPS to take over TNT Express. However, that deal ultimately fell through because the EU Commission did not approve.
