KN signs new Airbus contract

AIRBUS has chosen Kuehne + Nagel to act as lead logistics provider for its entire logistics operator. K+N will exclusively manage and operate all of the Airbus regional logistics hubs located in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

The new six-year contract significantly strengthens the partnership of K+N with the aircraft manufacturer entered into in 2003. It also marks a strategic entry of K+N into the French and UK aerospace and aviation logistics markets.

The new Airbus logistics concept foresees the successive consolidation of all local warehouse facilities into six regional hubs by 2010. As part of this, K+N will run a pan-European network of logistics centres in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. K+N’s operations for Airbus will encompass over 150,000 m2 warehouse space.

“This partnership is a revolutionary innovation in integrated aviation logistics,” said Dirk Reich, executive vice-president contract logistics and member of the K+N International management board. “The advantages will go beyond the cost savings of consolidation, standardisation and benchmarking towards a seamless integration of suppliers into an extended Airbus supply chain. We are convinced the concept will provide a tangible competitive advantage for Airbus and its partners. The high demands of Airbus in terms of accuracy, safety, dimensions, variety and distributed networks, make this contract unique and give a clear signal to other industries.”

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