DHL Considers $1.3-Billion Plane Order

DHL International Ltd. said it’s talking with Boeing Co. and Airbus Industrie about an order worth $1.3 billion for about 45 planes for use in Europe and Africa. The delivery service company, part of closely held DHL Worldwide Express, expects to make a decision by next month on the aircraft purchase, which would be the largest in its 30-year history. The planes would replace DHL’s fleet of Boeing 727s and Airbus A-300s. DHL also said it will spend about $234 million to upgrade its air express hub at Cologne/Bonn Airport in Germany and to build new hubs at another German airport, in Frankfurt, and in Singapore. Guy Collette, a spokesman for Brussels-based DHL, said the company has not decided whether to buy new or used planes. He said DHL was talking to several other parties besides Boeing and Airbus but would not name them.