DHL express, global leader for express international transport, returns to wager on Pisa, making the “Galileo Galilei” airport its reference hub for central Italy. The American group and the airport management company, SAT, recently announced the beginning of a new direct flight between Pisa and Leipzig, which will therefore connect the Tuscan airport with DHL’s principal European hub, which constitutes the gateway to the Eastern Europe and Asian markets. In January 2013, the shipping company had suspended its activities in Pisa – a choice that had led to a strong contraction of the cargo traffic for the airport last year – but it has now back to wagering heavily on Tuscany and central Italy. During all of 2012, the “merchandise and post” activity had generated approximately 7,400 tons of traffic.

The new flight – explains Alberto Nobis, managing director for DHL Express Italy – is “part of a strategy to strengthen the network and invest in the Italian territory. International markets show a great deal of attention to the Made in Italy and to the excellencies of our territory and this trend offers small and medium Italian businesses great development potential.” The new Pisa – Leipzig flight will operate five days a week with AirbusA300 and Boeing757 and will allow – according to reports by SAT and DHL – to improve the cut-off times for package acceptance by one hour. The DHL Gateway structure at Pisa’s airport occupies a total surface of 6,700 sq m, is directly connected to the highway network, and completely equipped to satisfy the needs expressed by DHL Express clients. Its creation required a total investment of 10.5 million by SAT.

“The launch of DHL activity constitutes an important development for the air transport of cargo by our airport – declared Gina Giani, managing director of Pisa’s airport – the Cargo Village (which hosts the DHL Gateway), its connection to the national roadway network, and the intervention on the flight infrastructures currently underway are among the investments predicted by the airport’s development plan, devised with an eye to the future.” According to Assoaeroporti (the association that gathers more than 30 companies that manage Italian ports), in 2013 Pisa was the tenth national airport in terms of traffic, with 4.5 million passengers.


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