DHL Express inaugurates new international hub at Barcelona-El Prat Airport following €80 million investment

DHL Express, the world’s leading provider of international express services, has officially opened its new international hub at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, investing €80 million. This new DHL centre in Barcelona enhances Catalonia’s position as a key logistics gateway and bridge between Europe, the Americas and Africa, and will help Catalan SMEs access international markets more easily.

Completed in less than two years, the new facility increases sorting capacity to over 20,000 parcels per hour: seven times more than the previous DHL Express facility. The launch of the centre has also led to a 10% increase in skilled jobs, offering staff a modern, safe, comfortable working environment.

According to the company, Barcelona has always been a cornerstone of DHL Express operations, supporting local exports and the sustained growth of businesses. Today, the company works with over 20,000 businesses in Spain, more than 20% of which have their headquarters in Catalonia.

In the past five years alone, DHL Express operations in Barcelona have grown 30%, driven primarily by the boom in international e-commerce. DHL Express currently operates ten flights daily from its own aviation network at Barcelona-El Prat, in addition to six intercontinental commercial connections. Plans are also under way to add two new network flights and further expand intercontinental connectivity through commercial routes.

The inauguration of the Barcelona hub is part of DHL’s broader investment strategy in Catalonia, which also includes the launch of a new operational facility in Girona, set to open later this year.