DHL Express Breaks Ground on U.S. Hub Project
DHL Express Breaks Ground on Major Expansion at Cincinnati Hub
DHL Express has commenced construction on a state-of-the-art 305,000-square-foot aircraft maintenance facility and an expanded aircraft apron at its global hub in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), representing a $292 million investment.
The new facility is designed to reduce aircraft downtime, boost operational reliability, and accommodate the growing demand for international shipments. The project includes the addition of eight new aircraft gates, significantly increasing capacity for handling aircraft and freight volumes.
Scheduled for completion by January 2026, the carbon-neutral hangar will span 50 newly leased acres and feature enough space to house two Boeing 777 freighters side by side. It will support under-cover line maintenance for DHL’s fleet of Boeing 737s, 767s, and 777s.
The expansion also brings a workforce boost, with DHL Express set to hire 300 new employees to staff the facility, in partnership with Kalitta Air.
“This investment complements our commitment to a more modern, fuel-efficient fleet,” said Rob Hyslop, Executive Vice President of Global Aviation at DHL Express. “The added capacity means faster turnaround times and greater operational efficiency to meet growing shipment volumes.”
Andrew Williams, CEO of DHL Express Americas, emphasized the broader impact: “By strengthening our maintenance infrastructure, we’re minimizing delays, improving service speed, and scaling up to meet customer demand with even greater precision and reliability.”
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear praised the project: “This expansion not only creates new jobs but reinforces Kentucky’s role as a national leader in logistics. We’re grateful to DHL for their continued investment in our state.”
Currently, DHL’s CVG hub covers 194 acres and includes 67 aircraft parking gates and 6.4 million square feet of ramp space. It supports 117 daily flights and operates a fleet of 64 aircraft, making it one of DHL’s three global super hubs alongside Leipzig, Germany and Hong Kong.
