French aircraft manufacturer Airbus has signed a six-year contract with logistics services provider Kuehne + Nagel, pursuant to which the latter will act as the lead logistics provider for Airbus's entire logistics operation.
Kuehne + Nagel will exclusively manage and operate all of the Airbus regional logistics hubs located in France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. The new contract significantly strengthens Airbus's partnership with Kuehne + Nagel, which began in 2003.
The new Airbus logistics concept foresees the successive consolidation of all local warehouse facilities into six regional hubs by 2010. As part of this, Kuehne + Nagel will run a pan-European network of logistics centers in France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Kuehne + Nagel's operations for Airbus will encompass over 150,000sqm of warehousing space.
Dirk Reich, executive vice president of contract logistics at Kuehne + Nagel, said: "This partnership is a revolutionary innovation in integrated aviation logistics. The advantages will go well beyond the cost savings of consolidation, standardization and benchmarking towards a seamless integration of suppliers into an extended Airbus supply chain."