A brief investigation of the well-known German newspaper “Die Welt” has recently revealed that DHL would be experiencing various and serious problems in running operations of its lately-built Leipzig hub. It is to note that this information has been formally denied by DHL owner, Deutsche Post.

The main problems seem to arise from the poor performance of the handling process because of a lack in training from the handling staff and a too low number of employees. It would take too much time to proceed both unloading and shipping. The delays subsequently generated would impact time slots, keeping planes on the ground and increasing costs.

According to Deutsche Post, the delays experienced are due only to the weather conditions, and nothing else. Besides, the additional flight that has just been set up from Brussels airport is to cover seasonality-related volumes and not to compensate the poor performance in Leipzig.

DHL in Vatry airport…

Remember when DHL was thinking about creating another hub in Europe a couple of years ago! At that time, the two main contesters were Vatry and Leipzig airport. Both options were fairly equal, but driven by political reasons, DHL opted eventually for Leipzig.

Nonetheless, on 2008 March, during the International Week of Transport and Logistics in Paris, DHL stated that starting March 31, two planes (Boeing 757 and ATR72) will be ensuring tow daily rotations from Vatry’s platform to Bergamo (Italy), the East Midlands (United Kingdom) and Vitoria (Spain). Transport Expertise could not get any feedbacks yet on this newly created service, but will keep you informed about it in the coming weeks.

According to DHL, these new rotations come as an evidence of the willingness from DHL to reinforce the transport link to and from the Paris area. However, we can wonder whether or not Vatry is used as a back up solution with regards to the problems DHL is encountering in Leipzig… DHL mentioned that, among other assets (e.g. closeness to Paris, quality of infrastructures, etc.), the skills and experiences of the staff made them opt for Vatry.

Be that as it may, Vatry airport will strive to guarantee the best quality of service they can in order to keep DHL in Vatry as long as possible and perhaps to appear (with a slight taste of revenge in the mouth) as an attractive spot to become a potential hub in the future…

Fast facts about Vatry airport

Vatry airport is located 150 kilometres east of Paris and is dedicated to freight traffic. It is run by a private company named S.E.V.E. (Société d’Exploitation de Vatry Europort) within the framework of a contract with the public authorities in Marne (a French Département).

Vatry was opened in 1975, and has a 3,860 m long runway (one of the longest in Europe), uses a total of 300,000 square metres warehouses and employs about 1,000 people. In particular, the well known French road hauler, Norbert Dentressangle, has been owning and operating a 52,000 square metres area since 2007.

In 2007, regular freight traffic increased 13%, reaching a total of 37,700 tons (of which 37,270 tons by plane), mostly due to Avient activities growth - which established its European hub in Vatry 4 years ago. Also, Aigle Azur to Algeria and Ceiba Cargo to Guinea have substantially contributed to the development of Vatry regular freight activity. In addition to these regular rotations, special flights (more specifically, shipping of Beaujolais to Japan and charters flight for humanitarian actions) have been operated.

All included (freight and passenger traffic), 2007 sets a new record in terms of movements with 18,800 landing and taking off over the year (+31%).

References

  • Press release: Les premiers avions DHL bientôt sur l’aéroport Paris-Vatry, DHL, Mar. 12, 2008: here
  • Press release: Les premiers avions DHL sur l’aéroport Paris-Vatry, Vatry airport, Apr. 13, 2008: here
  • Website: Aéroport international de Vatry: here
  • Website: Avient Limited: here
  • Website: Aigle Azur: here
  • Website: Norbert Dentressangle: here

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