Night flight ban prompts FedEx to move hub

Global express company FedEx has confirmed reports that it is to move one of its principal European operations from Frankfurt Rhein/Main Airport to Cologne/Bonn Airport. The integrator stated on Monday that it "will relocate its largest German gateway from Frankfurt/Main to the Cologne/Bonn airport in 2010".

The reason given for the move is that FedEx needs greater capacity for its European network. Germany is particularly favoured due to its exposure to Central and Eastern European traffic. To this end FedEx will invest in 50,000 sq m of new sorting facilities in Cologne.

Another key reason for moving out of Frankfurt, however, was that airport’s imminent ban on night-flights. FedEx Vice- President of Operations commented that due to the ban the "Frankfurt/Main location cannot provide FedEx with long-term planning reliability." Frankfurt Airport authorities have agreed to close the airport between midnight and 5am in the morning in exchange for local politicians agreeing to the extension of the airport.

Cologne is Germany's second largest handler of freight after Frankfurt/Main and already hosts the UPS Express hub along with UPS Supply Chain Services and Freight's warehousing capabilities.

FedEx, however, locates its European hub in Paris, supporting it operations with an alliance with Geodis, which provides a ground network throughout France. Whether FedEx's expansion in Cologne will weaken the role that Paris plays in FedEx's European network is unknown.