DHL Express has inaugurated its new international hub at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, a facility that will process up to 20,000 pieces per hour following an €80 million investment. The project was completed in less than two years.
The new logistics infrastructure is located on a 29,000 m² plot, with 10,000 m² for the warehoutilize and 3,000 m² for offices. According to a statement from DHL, the center’s sorting capacity is seven times greater than the previous facility. Its operations will serve Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and Andorra, and it will function as a connection point for air routes to Europe, the Americas, and North Africa.
“The new Barcelona hub is a strategic investment built for future growth,” explained Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express Europe. The opening is a response to the increase in shipment volume, which grew by 30% in five years, largely driven by e-commerce. The facility’s design accounts for projected demand over the next 20 years.
Currently, DHL Express operates 10 daily flights from its own network in Barcelona and utilizes connections on 6 other intercontinental commercial flights. The company plans to add two new network flights and increase connectivity.
Operational Capabilities and Global Connection
The hub is equipped with X-ray systems for parcel inspection and has a customs control area. Its platform allows for the simultaneous operation of 120 vans for daily delivery and collection routes.
“Spain plays a strategic role in the DHL Express network thanks to its logistics infrastructure and geographical location, which serves as a bridge between Europe, Africa, and especially Latin America,” noted Jesús Sánchez, Senior Vice President of HUBs at DHL Express Europe.
Sustainability and Future Investments
The facility incorporates sustainability measures in line with DHL Group’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhoutilize gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. These include a photovoltaic power plant and 37 electric chargers, with the infrastructure prepared to electrify its entire ground fleet.
The group is also working to ensure that 30% of its fleet’s aviation fuel is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030. This inauguration in Barcelona precedes other company investments in Spain, including a new operational facility in Girona and the construction of an aircraft maintenance hangar in Vitoria, which is expected to be operational in 2027.
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