PARIS, June 3, 2008 - FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) and the world’s largest transportation company, has announced two major European hub projects to meet the growing demands of European business—a major expansion to its European hub in Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, Paris, and a state-of-the-art environmentally friendly facility in Cologne.
The expansion at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle by September 2009 and the building of a major new facility at Cologne by spring 2010, announced at an event hosted at Roland Garros, will dramatically increase capacity at the two hubs—ensuring that FedEx Express can continue to provide a seamless service for customers who wish to access European and global markets while minimizing impact on the environment.
The European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs stated that in 2007 the European zone recorded its fastest economic growth rate since 2000, and that Europe was sharing in the benefits of the trend towards greater globalization. As manufacturers continue to move towards a global sourcing and production model, the demand for fast and reliable transportation services is increasing, and critical to the growth and success of European industry.
European trade performance brings greater business opportunities both within Europe, and in the global marketplace. FedEx continues to build its network across Europe to support this growth, with sustainable development of its hub facilities across the continent.
“These major developments of hubs at the very heart of our European operations demonstrate our commitment to playing a central role in the future growth of the continent as a whole,” said Robert W. Elliott, president, Europe, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa, FedEx Express. “At both Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Cologne, we believe we have found innovative and practical solutions to our need to expand our operations that are good for business and the environment.”
The relocation of FedEx Express main hub for Central and Eastern Europe from Frankfurt to Cologne will allow FedEx Express to create a state-of-the-art facility with the very latest environmental design to meet the rapidly growing demand for express services in Germany and Eastern Europe. As FedEx continues limited operations at the Frankfurt International Airport, the new facility will bring new jobs to the Cologne/Bonn region and further improve working conditions for employees.
The facility at Cologne is estimated to feature a 1.4-megawatt solar power system with the capacity to produce approximately 1.3 gigawatt hours of electricity per year—enough to power more than 370 homes each year. The new ramp and sort facilities, which will be built on approximately 50,000 square metres, will include 16,000 square metres of roof space for solar panels.
The Roissy-Charles de Gaulle hub is already the biggest outside of the United States. With the extension work, which was launched by Aéroports de Paris at the request of FedEx, sorting capacity will be increased from 24,000 to 31,500 packages per hour and the sort area from 49,000 to 72,000 square metres. The hub’s new sorting systems will be ready for September 2009.
The FedEx expansion at the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle hub maintains its commitment to minimizing impact on the environment, with more than 250 Liquefied Petroleum Gas-powered and electric-powered ground support vehicles at the hub - accounting for 62% of its ground support vehicles.
About FedEx Express
FedEx Express is the world’s largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money-back guarantee.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $37 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 290,000 employees and contractors to remain absolutely, positively focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit the newsroom.fedex.com/newsroom.
Picture: Copyright A. Papaïs