DHL Express to Move HQ Out of Brussels

DHL Express said it will transfer its European headquarters from Brussels to Germany and the Czech Republic over the next two years.

The Deutsche Post subsidiary plans to switch head office functions to Bonn or Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany and its IT data center to Prague.

DHL’s Belgian unions said the decision would result in the loss of up to 788 jobs in Brussels, including 524 at DHL Express and 325 at the DHL Aviation sorting center.

DHL, which employs 5,478 people in Belgium, said its operations in the country will not be affected and Brussels will remain an important hub in its global network.

DHL moved its European operational hub from Brussels to Leipzig/Halle in 2008.

The eastern German airport is also the hub for AeroLogic, an all-cargo carrier jointly owned by DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo, which began operations in June.