After just over a year of construction, DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of DHL Group, celebrated the official opening of its new air freight hub at Frankfurt Airport. The project was developed by Fraport AG on a site of approximately 55,000 m² in CargoCity Süd. The 24,500 m² air freight terminal, featuring 54 cross-docks, enables the processing of up to 300,000 tons of air freight for both German and international customers.
DHL Global Forwarding’s existing facilities at Frankfurt Airport are being consolidated at the new location, resulting in more efficient handling of air freight, fewer truck movements, and shorter distances for employees handling or transferring cargo at the site. Approximately 100 employees will work at the new site. With the new air freight hub, DHL Global Forwarding is enhancing its handling capacities in Frankfurt for both imports and exports, positioning itself for future growth.
“Frankfurt, with its central location in Europe, has become increasingly important to us as an air freight hub over the years. With the new site, we are turning our vision into reality: the highest quality standards, cutting-edge technology, and stronger consolidation. This establishes the ideal framework for us to manage our growing transport volumes even more efficiently, quickly, and sustainably,” said Tobias Schmidt, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Europe.
In addition to a state-of-the-art air freight terminal, 3,000 m² of flexible office and social spaces have been created. The new facility also accommodates the European headquarters of the in-house air freight operator StarBroker, which is responsible for booking and coordinating air freight capacities for DHL Global Forwarding and managing controlled flight operations. The new hub facilitates services such as consolidation and deconsolidation of air freight, customs clearance, handling for onward transport by truck, and organization of charter capacities, all under one roof. Modern ULD handling technology is employed to enhance efficiency and quality for customers.
The property was constructed in accordance with the latest ecological standards and features a solar roof with a peak output of 2 megawatts. The total area of 55,000 m² provides sufficient parking and maneuvering space for both employees and delivery traffic, with 25 truck parking and 185 car parking spaces, including 20 charging stations for electric vehicles. The owner of the property is Fraport AG, which leases it to DHL Global Forwarding.
“The inauguration of the state-of-the-art air freight facility by DHL Global Forwarding marks an important milestone in the continued development of Frankfurt as a leading air freight hub. With the Master Plan Cargohub, Fraport aims to increase cargo volumes by over 50 percent, reaching approximately 3 million tons of air freight per year by 2040. The new site, with an annual turnover of 300,000 tons of freight, is a key component,” says Anke Giesen, Executive Board Member for Retail and Real Estate at Fraport AG. “Furthermore, the customer-oriented and timely execution of the project showcases the proven expertise of the Fraport real estate development team.”
