DHL Express France inaugurates its new gateway at Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport

DHL Express celebrated its 40th anniversary at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport by inaugurating a multi-service site to handle Time Definite International and Day Definite International shipments, the first of its kind in France. This hub, with direct access to the airport runways, will commence operations this summer. It will handle international, European, national, and local parcels, transported via air or road, ranging from urgent to less urgent deliveries.

In addition to its operational focus, the site will host the regional commercial and support functions of the company. A total of 400 employees will work there, accounting for more than half of DHL Express's 750 employees in the region. This new giant site represents the second most significant investment in the company's history in France, where it has been established since 1976, amounting to €121 million, just behind the €170 million invested in the air hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, inaugurated in 2021.

The choice of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region for such a site is strategic for the company. With >20% of volumes transported in France, it ranks second among the most important French regions for the company, following Île-de-France. Situated at the crossroads of major trade routes in Europe, particularly from the south (Italy, Spain, Portugal), the north (United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands), and central Europe (Switzerland, Austria, Germany), this ultra-modern site is built on a 50,000 m² plot equivalent to seven rugby fields. It is designed to accommodate the evolving flow of goods over the next 15 years without interrupting operations, while minimizing carbon impact.

In France, DHL Express has seen its activities grow by 15% over the past five years. After a stabilization year in 2023 amid a general decline in international trade, DHL Express recorded a rebound in volumes, handling >45 million parcels in 2024 (+1% compared to 2023). In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, DHL Express experienced a >20% increase in activities in 2024 compared to 2019.

Philippe Prétat, CEO of DHL Express France, commented: "France is a key country in our European network. We have invested heavily to strengthen our infrastructure: €425 million since 2018. We are proud of this new construction, which we have designed to optimize parcel management, workplace comfort, and environmental impact. This site uniquely covers our entire service offering: from international to local, urgent to less urgent. It will enable us to continue providing excellent service to our customers in the years to come, with the possibility of expanding in future to support the increase in global flows."

Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express Europe, stated: "This gateway provides an additional step to fulfill our mission: connecting people and improving lives. Our latest study, 'DHL Trade Atlas 2025,' conducted with the Stern School of Business at New York University, demonstrates this: after the recovery of global trade in 2024, growth will continue, even amid geopolitical tensions that may lead to increased customs duties. By adapting its infrastructure, DHL Express is preparing to respond to this growth by offering a wide range of services tailored to our customers' varying needs: from the fastest to the slower options. This investment in France reflects our confidence in the country's and Europe's economy."

Cédric Fechter, Chairman of the Management Board of Aéroports de Lyon, said : "At VINCI Airports, we welcome the long-term commitment of DHL, the world leader in express transport, to the Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport platform. Lyon Airport has invested significantly in the development of CargoPort, its dedicated freight zone, in order to create the necessary capacity to support the growth of its partners. These investments include the construction of the new DHL building, inaugurated today, as well as the creation of an aircraft parking area and major roadworks. This new infrastructure represents a strategic lever for the region: it strengthens logistics connectivity and facilitates express freight transport, a key link in the local economic dynamism."

Up to 17,500 parcels processed per hour 

The maximum processing capacity of the site will be 17,500 parcels per hour, five times more than the current capability. Currently, the airport site processes nearly 38,000 parcels per day, with peaks reaching 60,000 parcels during the holiday season. The new facility features state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate processing and improve workplace comfort by reducing operator handling and movement. The new installations offer an average time saving of 60 minutes in parcel processing.

A construction aimed at zero emissions by 2050

DHL Express has improved energy performance at the new facility by 55% compared to the old site. The building meets the highest environmental standards set by DHL Group, with optimized land use and intelligent energy consumption management. This next-generation site is equipped with 78 charging stations for electric vehicles, energy-efficient lighting, fast-opening and closing dock doors to minimize heat loss in winter and cool air loss in summer, a white roof to reflect light and reduce building temperature in summer, and rainwater harvesting systems. It aligns with DHL Group's goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050.