DHL chief: "Non" to US domestic business
DHL Worldwide Express is focusing its efforts in the United States on developing its international express business rather than expanding its share of the U.S. domestic market, said Uwe R. Doerken, the company’s chairman and chief executive.
“We don’t have any finalized decision today as to whether we would enter the U.S. (domestic) market,” Doerken said in response to questions after speaking Monday at the Cargo Network Services conference in Miami.
Doerken ridiculed a complaint by United Parcel Service that asks the U.S. Department of Transportation to revoke a freight-forwarding license granted to DHL last November.
“UPS is unashamed to go to any lengths,” he said, noting that “anyone with a telephone can apply for a forwarder’s license in this country.”
The DHL chief acknowledged that success by either UPS or FedEx Corp., which has filed a separate case asking the DOT to revoke DHL’s airline license, would be a major setback to the carrier. But, he added, “I can’t imagine that would happen.” The two carriers filed their complaints with the DOT in late January.
Doerken, who is based at DHL’s global headquarters in Brussels, added that “European political institutions would not stand for it” if the DOT acted against DHL.
Asked whether DHL plans to form an alliance with Northwest Airlines, Doerken responded, “We are in contact with various industry players about possible alliances.” The talks have nothing to do with the possible revocation of DHL’s airline operating license in the U.S., he said, noting that DHL has a trans-Pacific alliance with Northwest.
Jim Friedel, president of Northwest’s cargo subsidiary, said it was unclear whether the two carriers will form an alliance in the U.S. Northwest, however, does plan to start a trans-Pacific freighter service on July 16 to Cincinnati , DHL’s U.S. hub.
