DHL Global Forwarding has launched a new 24,500 m² air freight facility at Frankfurt Airport, consolidating its operations into a single, centralized logistics hub.
Located in CargoCity Süd and developed in partnership with Fraport AG, the terminal is designed to handle up to 300,000 tonnes of air cargo annually. Equipped with 54 cross-docks, the site unifies three previous DHL facilities around Frankfurt Airport, significantly reducing internal truck traffic and streamlining logistical processes.
The facility enhances DHL’s operational capacity along a critical trade route connecting the Middle East to Europe, benefitting freight operators and logistics stakeholders across the Gulf region. Frankfurt’s strategic location strengthens its position as a major gateway for intra-European and international air freight movement.
Efficiency and sustainability
“This facility provides us with the ideal setup to manage increasing transport volumes more efficiently, sustainably, and at greater speed.” Tobias Schmidt, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Europe, noted. The terminal supports time-sensitive logistics for key industries such as aerospace, automotive, and healthcare—sectors experiencing growing demand in markets like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
It also serves as the European headquarters for StarBroker, DHL’s internal air freight capacity management service. Services provided at the site include customs clearance, cargo consolidation and deconsolidation, onward road transportation, and charter coordination.
To enhance efficiency and reliability, modern ULD (Unit Load Device) handling systems have been installed. These technologies are particularly valuable to Gulf-region clients who rely on tight schedules and precise delivery windows.
Sustainability has been built into the terminal’s design, with a solar roof system capable of generating 2 megawatts of electricity, alongside electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The full complex spans 55,000 m² and includes parking for 25 trucks and 185 cars.
Fraport AG, the site’s owner and lessor to DHL, sees the development as part of a larger strategy to expand cargo operations at Frankfurt Airport. According to Anke Giesen, Executive Board Member for Retail and Real Estate at Fraport, the company aims to boost cargo throughput by more than 50%, targeting around three million tonnes of annual air freight by 2040 under its “Master Plan Cargohub.”