DHL renews Airbus logistics contract, expands global flow role

DHL Supply Chain has renewed and expanded its contract with Airbus to manage the aircraft manufacturer’s global logistics flows, continuing a partnership that began in 2008. The agreement covers transport management across air, sea, road and parcel networks and includes a dedicated service for aircraft on ground operations.

Under the renewed contract, DHL Supply Chain will manage close to 350,000 shipments each year for Airbus across around twenty sites worldwide. Operations will be coordinated from centres in Toulouse and Valencia, covering inbound flows from suppliers, inter-factory movements across Europe, the United States and China, and outbound logistics, including spare parts and returns.

The scope of work also includes carrier management, transport tendering, quality control and claims handling. The logistics model is built around DHL’s lead transport partnership framework, which centralises planning and execution while providing continuous oversight of transport flows.

DHL said its control towers in France and Spain play a central role in managing visibility and coordination across Airbus’ supply chain. The company noted that growing complexity in global manufacturing has increased the need for real-time oversight, structured transport planning and consistent service levels across regions.

“Supply chain complexity is increasing due to globalisation, increased product variety and technological changes, raising expectations and demands for improved service, greater visibility and control across supply chains. We are proud to create this visibility for Airbus through our LTP control towers in Valencia, Spain, and Toulouse, France, to ensure efficient flows of their manufacturing parts globally,” said Rainer Haag, CEO Europe, DHL Supply Chain.

DHL said the renewed contract also reflects a continued focus on digitalisation and system integration. The company will continue to deploy its transport management systems to support planning, execution and monitoring of shipments across Airbus’ network.

“For nearly 20 years, our collaboration with Airbus has been built on mutual trust and a shared commitment to operational excellence. This renewal demonstrates our ability to deliver tailored, scalable supply chain management solutions that support Airbus’ growth, while advancing the digital transformation of its supply chain to meet today’s and tomorrow’s needs. Through technological innovation, continuous process improvement, and the mobilisation of all of DHL Group’s expertise, we help enhance Airbus’ visibility and shorten order fulfilment times,” said Nico Schuetz, CEO of DHL Supply Chain France.

Sustainability and efficiency remain part of the expanded partnership. DHL said the integration of its transport management systems will support route planning and load optimisation, contributing to lower emissions across transport operations.

“In a context where logistics performance must also align with energy efficiency, DHL Supply Chain leverages its full range of expertise to combine technological innovation with carbon footprint reduction. The integration of the new transport management system not only improves planning and reduces lead times but also optimises routes and load factors, helping to cut transport-related emissions. This partnership reflects DHL and Airbus’ shared commitment to accelerating the transition to a more resilient, intelligent, and sustainable supply chain,” said Catherine O’Toole, Head of LLP and Transport EMEA.