DHL Express plans to open its new 24-hour express hub at Changi Airport in Singapore by the first quarter of 2016, as part of its strategy to strengthen its position in Asia. This is the largest infrastructure investment the express company has made in Singapore, with 292,950 square feet of floor area.
In the Asia Pacific region, DHL Express operates four hubs in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore, linking to more than 70 DHL “gateways” located throughout the region, said Jerry Hsu, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific. “With the continued growth of the Asia Pacific economies, the South Asia hub will provide the necessary logistics capabilities to support the growth of trade within the region.”
The new hub will be DHL’s first fully automated express parcel and sorting system in South Asia. Once at full capacity, the facility will be able to handle a throughput of more than 628 tonnes per day and process 14,000 shipments per hour, compared to 225 tonnes a day and 2,400 shipments per hour at its current Singapore facility.
DHL’s network includes more than 40 aircraft, covering 40 countries and territories, using approximately 690 commercial flights each day in the Asia-Pacific region.
“The new facility, which has improved capabilities and three times more capacity than that of DHL’s existing facility, allows air express parcels to be shipped or transshipped within an hour,” said Yam Kum Weng, executive vice-president, air hub and development, for Changi Airport Group.