DHL Global Forwarding has officially opened its new airfreight hub at Frankfurt Airport, which consolidates its various sites at the airport.
The new 300,000 ton capacity terminal is located at CargoCity Süd, measures 24,500 sq m and features 54 cross-docks.
The forwarder said that the consolidation of its operations at the airport would result in a “more efficient handling of airfreight, fewer truck movements, and shorter distances for employees handling or transferring cargo”.
The company added that the facility would also position it for future growth.
DHL Global Forwarding Europe chief executive Tobias Schmidt said: "Frankfurt, with its central location in Europe, has become increasingly important to us as an airfreight hub over the years.
"This establishes the ideal framework for us to manage our growing transport volumes even more efficiently, quickly, and sustainably."
The terminal also offers 3,000 sq m of flexible office and social spaces and accommodates the European headquarters of the in-house airfreight operator StarBroker, which is responsible for booking and coordinating airfreight capacities for DHL Global Forwarding and managing controlled flight operations
The new hub facilitates services such as consolidation and deconsolidation of airfreight, customs clearance, handling for onward transport by truck, and organisation of charter capacities.
Fraport, the owner and operator of Frankfurt Airport (FRA), has leased the property space to DHL Global Forwarding and worked on the development project with the forwarder.
Anke Giesen, executive board member for retail and real estate at Fraport, said: “With the Master Plan Cargohub, Fraport aims to increase cargo volumes by over 50%, reaching approximately 3m tons of airfreight per year by 2040. The new site, with an annual turnover of 300,000 tons of freight, is a key component."
Work on the site began in early 2024.
