€121 million has been invested in the hub, which has direct access to the airport runways and will start operations in the summer.
It is the first multi-service hub in France which is capable of handling Time Definite International (TDI) and Day Definite International (DDI) shipments.
The site’s processing capacity has increased more than five times to a maximum of 17,500 parcels per hour.
DHL processes 38,000 parcels a day at the airport, reaching peaks of 60,000 during holiday periods.
The new facility has state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate processing and improve workplace comfort by reducing operator handling and movement.
The new installations save an average of 60 minutes in parcel processing time.
Philippe Pretat, CEO of DHL Express France said: “We are proud of this new construction, which we have designed to optimise parcel management, workplace comfort, and environmental impact. This site uniquely covers our entire service offering: from international to local, urgent to less urgent. It will enable us to continue providing excellent service to our customers in the years to come, with the possibility of expanding in future to support the increase in global flows.”
Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express Europe highlighted the DHL Trade Atlas 2025, which said that global trade will continue to grow despite geopolitical developments.
He said: “By adapting its infrastructure, DHL Express is preparing to respond to this growth by offering a wide range of services tailored to our customers' varying needs: from the fastest to the slower options. This investment in France reflects our confidence in the country's and Europe's economy.”
The new facility is also 55% more energy efficient than the old site, which has been designed with optimised land use and intelligent energy consumption management.
It is equipped with 78 charging stations for electric vehicles, energy-efficient lighting, fast-opening and closing dock doors to minimise heat loss in winter and cool air loss in summer, a white roof to reflect light and reduce building temperature in summer and a rainwater harvesting system.
The Lyon expansion is DHL’s second-largest investment in France after it invested €170 million in its Paris Charles de Gaulle hub, which was inaugurated in 2021.
DHL Express France’s activities have grown 15% in the last five years and the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region has grown more than 20% since 2019.