Where Are DHL Hubs? (All You Need to Know)

Like many logistics companies, DHL uses a spoke and wheel system in order to move packages around the world as quickly as possible.

In this model, packages are first sent to a central hub, then they’re moved to smaller warehouses and sorting centers before being dispatched for delivery.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about the location of DHL’s hubs, so keep reading!

Where Are DHL Hubs in [currentyear]?

DHL’s largest hub is located at the Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) in Schkeuditz, Germany, in [currentyear]. Other European hubs include Brussels Airport (BRU), Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). DHL’s Asian hubs include Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and Bangkok. DHL’s main American hub is located at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG) in Hebron, Kentucky.

To get further information about DHL’s hubs around the world, make sure to finish this article for more useful facts and tips.

What Is a DHL Hub?

This article will tell you everything you need to know about the location of DHL’s hubs, but before that, it’s important to understand what a hub is.

In the logistics industry, a hub refers to a centralized location where packages, envelopes, and/or freight are exchanged between vehicles or transport modes.

Hubs are an essential part of the shipping process because they allow companies like DHL to process and dispatch packages as quickly as possible.

After an item is processed and sorted at a hub, it heads to a series of warehouses or distribution centers on the way to its final destination.

What Is the Biggest DHL Hub?

As a German company, it makes sense that DHL’s largest hub is located in Germany. More specifically, it’s located at the Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) in Schkeuditz, Germany.

This hub has 936,460 square feet (87,000 square meters) of terminal space, a 29-mile (46.6 kilometers) sorting system, and more than 6,000 employees.

What’s more, the facility can handle 150,000 packages per hour and registers 23,600 aircraft movements per year.

Where Are DHL Hubs in Europe?

In addition to its main hub at the Leipzig/Halle Airport, DHL has a number of other hubs throughout Europe.

Brussels Airport (BRU) in Belgium serves as a regional hub but is increasingly used as a global hub thanks to its location in Central Europe.

This facility has 392,882 square feet of space (36,500 square meters) and is able to handle 42,000 shipments per hour.

Two of the newest hubs are located in Paris at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) International Airport and Malpensa Airport (MXP) near Milan, Italy.

DHL’s Paris hub was completed in 2021 and has 979,515 square feet (91,000 square meters) of space.

In addition, it can handle 38,000 pieces of mail per hour (e.g. parcels, flyers, and envelopes).

In Italy, the Malpensa Airport hub is a strategically located cargo gateway to Southern Europe.

This hub employs 900 people, can operate 30 flights daily, and handles more than 38,000 pieces of mail per hour.

DHL’s next European hub will be located in Sofia, Bulgaria. It will be an important addition to the company’s road freight services in Eastern Europe.

Where Are DHL Hubs in Asia?

DHL Express’ Asia Pacific Air network operates using a multi-hub strategy supported by four main hubs.

Let’s see where each of these hubs is located:

Central Asia Hub – Hong Kong
North Asia Hub – Shanghai, China
South Asia Hubs – Singapore and Bangkok, Thailand

Together, these four hubs link 50 DHL Express gateways in the region.

Additionally, DHL Express operates a parcel hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul, South Korea.

Where Is the DHL Hub in the USA?

DHL Express’ main international hub in the United States is located at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG) in Hebron, Kentucky.

Eighty percent of all shipments from the Americas pass through the CVG hub, and 90% of the U.S. volume transits through CVG.

What’s more, the U.S. Quality Control Center (QCC) is located here. It acts as traffic control, constantly monitoring world events and weather in order to prevent shipment delays.

In addition to this main hub, DHL Express also operates hubs/gateways at the following locations in the United States:

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago
Miami International Airport (MIA)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York

In 2022, DHL announced plans to expand its Atlanta gateway at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport into a regional hub.

This will bring more direct flights from Europe and Asia into the Southeastern states.

Why Is DHL’s Hub in Kentucky?

Given the larger airports DHL operates out of in the United States, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport may seem like an odd choice for a major international hub.

However, just like all of DHL’s hubs, this airport was chosen for its strategic location.

In fact, CVG is located within one hour’s flight time of 60% of the U.S. population and within 3 hours flight time of 85% of the U.S. population.

To know more, you can also read our posts on whether DHL is a freight forwarder, whether DHL is a German company, and whether DHL is publicly traded.

Conclusion

DHL is able to maintain its position as one of the world’s best shipping companies, thanks to its many international hubs.

These locations process tens of thousands of packages daily and make sure packages get where they need to go as quickly as possible.

It’s important to note that as long as the eCommerce industry continues to grow, DHL will continue to expand existing hubs and build new ones.

In fact, the company already has tentative plans to build a new hub in Ontario, California, and a gateway in Texas.