Tag: DHL

Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt has written to express courier company DHL to demand assurances that its air fleet will be modernised if it extends its activities at Brussels airport, Belgian daily Le Soir newspaper reported, citing the prime minister.

Talks between Belgian authorities and DHL over the expansion of Brussels Zaventum airport into DHL’s regional hub have stalled over the disturbance to local residents caused by an increase in night flights.

The main stumbling block, which the federal government hopes is the key to a settlement, is the modernisation of DHL’s fleet of planes to ensure quieter models are used when landing after-dark, Le Soir said.

The government and international shipper DHL continued to struggle Wednesday to find a compromise that would keep the courier service’s European hub and thousands of jobs in Brussels while keeping noisy night flights within acceptable limits.

The government insisted Wednesday that DHL use quieter planes for intercontinental flights after newspaper reports suggested that the courier would keep using its older, noisier aircraft.

The issue has gained center stage over the past two weeks because it highlights the struggle within the government to meet its commitment to increase employment in Belgium, even if doing so may come at the cost of more environmental damage.