DHL Express inaugurated its new Roissy CDG hub on 5 October, which will start operating on 21 October. The new hub, which required an investment of €170 million, should be able to handle 38,000 parcels per hour, i.e. fifteen times more than the old hub, according to Philippe Prétat, Managing Director of DHL Express France. Still in the test phase, the site will have a total surface area of 32,000 m2, six times larger than the old site. Almost all the employees of the three platforms that the group managed in Ile-de-France will be transferred to the new site, the group announced, announcing the creation of 239 direct jobs to form a team of 719 people in total.

22 Boeing 777s purchased

The new site is being brought into operation at a time when e-commerce has seen strong growth in the context of the health crisis and confinements. In 2020, the group saw its activity increase by 7.6% compared to 2019. DHL Express, which has announced that it wants to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, is also emphasising the environmental performance of its new airport hub. The site is equipped with photovoltaic panels, LED lighting and electric trolleys and vehicles. The group has also purchased 22 Boeing 777s, which should reduce CO2 emissions by 17% compared to previous models. Twelve 100% electric "Alice" aircraft have also been ordered from the manufacturer Eviation and are expected to fly from 2024. The DHL Express group claims a 37% share of the French market and expects to grow by 8% annually, thanks to the continued development of e-commerce.