Belgian PM supports DHL’s expansion plans

Belgian prime minister, Guy Verhofstadt, has stated that DHL must keep its European head office in Belgium, preferably at Zaventem international airport near Brussels.

The PM spoke to the media after a two-day government meeting following threats by DHL that it may move its European hub from Brussels if the Belgian authorities don’t approve the company’s growth plans.

Local residents are strongly opposed to DHL’s plans to operate additional night flights out of Zaventem airport.

In an attempt to appease both the anti-noise opponents and DHL, Verhofstadt suggested a compromise: DHL could be allowed to expand its operations until September 2004. If the parties fail to find a solution that is acceptable to all, then the government would consider the implications of losing DHL to another airport.

However, critics point out that it will be difficult to put the brakes on DHL’s expansion plans once the process has begun.