The Port of Seattle welcomes daily cargo service from DHL, the world’s leading international express services provider, starting this week at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. DHL is relocating from Boeing Field to access Sea-Tac’s enhanced cargo facilities.
DHL will operate 20 flights per week using Boeing 757 and 767 freighter aircraft. The addition of DHL marks the seventh new air carrier to announce service at Sea-Tac in 2016. This includes cargo carriers Lufthansa Cargo (operated by AeroLogic) and ABX Air, along with passenger service from Spirit (started in March), Volaris and Xiamen slated to begin later in the year. Virgin Atlantic also just announced service to Sea-Tac beginning in 2017.
“The investment we made to modernize and expand our airfield cargo facilities continues to pay off with cargo carriers moving to Sea-Tac to take advantage of the opportunities,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Courtney Gregoire. “The bright yellow planes of DHL mean green in the form of jobs and the ability to expand with the economic growth f the region. It’s another building block toward meeting the Port’s Century Agenda goal of increasing air cargo at Sea-Tac.”
Last year, the Port spent $23 million in facility upgrades at Sea-Tac aimed to increase international trade-related business for cargo. The projects expanded two cargo areas to create expanded capacity for larger freighter operations which allows Sea-Tac to accommodate additional cargo business.
“SEA-TAC provides DHL with growth opportunities as we continue to expand,” said Cain Moodie, vice president and head of operations for DHL Express U.S.
Sea-Tac air cargo fast facts:
- Sea-Tac handled 332,636 metric tons of air cargo in 2015. The Port of Seattle has a goal to reach 750,000 metric tons by 2036.
- An estimated $12.7 billion worth of air freight is exported to domestic and international markets through Sea-Tac yearly, while another $13.6 billion is imported.
- An estimated nearly $23 billion in economic value in Washington State is associated with air freight loaded at Sea-Tac in 2015.
- Air freight shipped through Sea-Tac is related to 119,685 jobs representing over $5.5 billion in wages and $521 million in state and local taxes.
DHL: the logistics company for the world
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry and offers a portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 340,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, energy, automotive and retail, a proven commitment to corporate responsibility and an unrivalled presence in developing markets, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 59 billion euros in 2015.
