Cornerstone laid on new DHL Express Estonia air freight terminal in Tallinn Airport City business park
Thursday 24 October saw the cornerstone laid on the new DHL Express Estonia air freight terminal in the Airport City business park at Tallinn Airport. The 7260 m2 complex on the southern site of the airport is due for completion by the end of 2025.
“The development of Airport City forms an important part of the development of Tallinn Airport as a whole, and shows that large international companies are interested in expanding their operations on the Estonian market,” said Minister of Infrastructure Vladimir Svet. “The construction of DHL Express Estonia’s new air freight terminal will help to improve trade with other countries and contribute to Estonia’s economic growth.”
The building will feature 1550 m2 of office space and a 5700 m2 freight terminal, including new under-roof loading platforms for couriers. The complex will meet the requirements of the LEED Silver environmental certificate.
Kristina Laaneots, a member of the management board of DHL Express Estonia, says the laying of the cornerstone demonstrates the company’s commitment to growth, innovation and the future. “This is an important milestone for the company, as it will boost our position in the logistics sector and enable us to serve our clients and society as a whole even more effectively,” she said. “The new terminal, with its fully automated sorting line, will be a hub of technology and logistics where new ideas and solutions are born. It will be a place where our experts work with clients to create innovative and sustainable logistics solutions. The new terminal will shape a future where freight is faster, more efficient and more environmentally friendly, and offers clients greater transparency and control over their supply chain.”
Teet Raudsep, the director of Airport City, says the business park will create new and improved opportunities for businesses that need to be close to the airport, its runway and aircraft. “I’m delighted to be welcoming DHL Express Estonia, one of our longest-standing clients, to these new and significantly larger facilities, which will allow them to grow their business,” he said.
Tiit Kõnd, a member of the management board of Astlanda Ehitus, says it was and will be a major challenge for the company to both design and construct an environmentally sustainable building that meets the specific needs of the tenant by the target completion date. “We’re already having to take the strict LEED certification requirements into account during the construction phase,” he noted. “On top of that, one of the most important innovative solutions we’re implementing is to get all of the cooling and most of the heating power we need from below ground using vertical boreholes.”
Riivo Tuvike, the chairman of the management board of Tallinn Airport, says the airport’s mission is to connect Estonia with the world and to find ways of boosting revenue beyond passenger transport. “By increasing the airport’s revenue, we create opportunities to invest in the development of infrastructure, new technological solutions and passenger comfort,” he explained. “Most airports in Europe are no longer focusing on passenger transport alone to increase their revenue base. An increasing share of turnover is coming from the sale of goods and services to passengers, as well as to other partners around the airport. The proximity of the runway and the availability of related services represents great added value for transport and logistics firms, aircraft maintenance and service providers, hotels, warehousing services and industrial companies.”
Airport City is Tallinn Airport’s business park and gateway to international business. It covers all of the commercial space offered by the airport and the new developments in areas close to the runway. What makes Airport City special is the synergy between aviation and business, its unique location and its international profile.
Airport City comprises four areas around Tallinn Airport’s runway on land covering approximately 380 hectares, divided up into 20 properties based on their location relative to the runway, i.e. to the north, south, east or west of it.
