DHL Express is set to build a logistics center for international air shipments at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and is allocating around €100 million for the entire lease period for new premises and technology in the Aviapolis area.

Once operational, the airside access will DHL aircraft parked on the apron to be reached directly from the new building. All incoming and outgoing express shipments in Finland will be handled in the logistics center, which is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2025.

DHL said the new facility comes in response to growing shipment volumes in Finland, powered by international e-commerce and remarkable growth in demand in all customer segments.

“The new state-of-the-art gateway facility will enhance our ability to continue to create reliable and fast transport services that support the competitiveness of Finnish export and import companies,” said Oktay Nuri, Managing Director DHL Express Finland.

“The new facility will be about 16,000 gross square meters in size, more than double the size of our current gateway in Vantaa. The automated sorting system can handle approximately 6,500 items per hour. 90 direct loading bays enable efficient sorting of shipments directly from the conveyor to the delivery vans. All bays will be equipped with charging stations for e-vehicles, supporting our goal to electrify our entire pick-up and delivery fleet within a few years,” explained Janne Appel, perations director of DHL Express Finland.

DHL said the new facility will be built by AVIA Real Estate Oy, with Meijou Oy as the main contractor, and has been designed to be carbon neutral. The new Helsinki gateway is part of an extensive network infrastructure improvement program that the group is undertaking, which includes a new Nordic Express opened in Copenhagen a couple of months ago and a similar gateway facility being built in Munich.

Some 150 employees will be employed at the new gateway with the head office of DHL Express Finland located in separate premises.