SINGAPORE/ISTANBUL: DHL Express has announced plans to build new hubs in Singapore and Istanbul at a cost of US$161 million.

The 26,000 sq.mt facility at Changi airport (right), scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2016, will feature a fully automated express parcel sorting and processing system to handle 14,000 shipments an hour and over 620 tonnes of cargo a day.

Jerry Hsu, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific, said the new facility will reinforce the company's multi-hub Asia strategy that includes terminals in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore.

"DHL has pioneered the logistics sector in Singapore for over 42 years, building market leadership through innovation, service excellence and commitment. The South Asia hub is a strong statement of DHL's long term growth plan for Singapore to continue to be one of DHL's strategic air cargo hubs in Asia," added Herbert Vongpusanachai, senior vice president and managing director, DHL Express Singapore.

Meanwhile in Turkey, the express company has signed an MoU with the operator of Istanbul's new airport İGA Havalimanı İşletmesi to construct a new 20,000 sq.mt. logistics hub. The airport, planned to replace Atatürk airport, is set to open on October 29, 2017, the 94th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.

In making the announcement DHL Express Turkey managing director Markus Reckling said the new terminal would be the foundation for transforming Turkey into a regional hub for the company.