DHL Express Establishes New Airline for the European Market

DHL Express announces plans for the future structure of its European air freight network. The innovations are another milestone in the 2025 strategy. A new airline based in Austria will primarily conduct European freight flights. The current airline DHL Air UK will be further developed for intercontinental flights.

(Bonn) DHL Express today announced its plans for the future structure of its European air freight network. The innovations are another milestone in the company’s 2025 strategy and address the increasing demand for DHL Express’s international services. In the first step, DHL Express aims to establish a new cargo airline in Austria. Currently, DHL is submitting the relevant applications to the Austrian authorities. Subject to the approval of these applications, the new airline is expected to be established and commence operations later this year. With a fleet of B757 cargo aircraft transferred from DHL Air UK, the new company will take over intra-European flights. In return, DHL Air UK will be developed into an intercontinental airline, expanding its existing fleet of B767 aircraft with new B777F aircraft. With these steps, DHL Express strengthens its air transport network, ensures flexible and stable air freight capacities, and supports the continuing increase in demand for international express shipments from its customers.

Preparing for Further Growth

“With the new airline, we are not only adapting our European network to changing regulations, but also preparing it for further growth,” explains Roy Hughes, Head of the European Air Freight Network at DHL Express. “With this step, we are meeting the continued high demand from our customers for cross-border express deliveries and can provide them with sufficient express capacities. With the new structure, we can make our air transport network in Europe more flexible and stable while ensuring better integration into our global network through a higher number of intercontinental flights.” DHL Express recently achieved the strongest quarter in its over 50-year company history. Due to the global e-commerce boom, the company was able to increase the volume of its international ‘Time Definite’ shipments (TDI) by more than 25 percent compared to the first quarter of 2020. Further e-commerce growth is expected in the future as the digitization of the B2B sector progresses, significantly increasing the number of purchases on online platforms, which in turn promotes the demand for international express shipments.

Additional Aircraft at East Midlands Airport

In response to this growth and to continue providing its customers with the fastest transit times for their cross-border deliveries, DHL Express is restructuring its East Midlands-based airline DHL Air UK. DHL Air UK will now focus on intercontinental flights and increase the number of flights between the UK, North and South America, and Asia. The fleet will be expanded with additional B767 aircraft and new B777F aircraft. DHL Air UK plans to deploy the B777 aircraft starting in early 2022. “The UK has always been an important trade gateway to the world. Given the increasing demand for international time-sensitive deliveries, this is more true today than ever,” explains Tom Mackle, Managing Director of DHL Air UK. “The expansion of our intercontinental express fleet in the UK with new B777s – the most modern and efficient cargo aircraft – underscores our commitment and obligation to meet changing customer needs, continuously deliver excellent services, and also improve our CO2 footprint.” Photo: © DHL Express / Image Caption Title Image: DHL aircraft at Linz Airport