FedEx announces plans for major logistics hub next to Dublin Airport

The new FedEx facility will feature a warehouse covering over 14,500 sqm and include 30 loading bays for trucks and over 100 loading bays for vans to load and unload shipments. Photo: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg

Paul O'Donoghue

US delivery giant FedEx has announced plans to build a major logistics centre next to Dublin airport which it said will be its main Irish base.

The firm said subject to planning being granted, construction work will start in January and become operational in “early 2025”.

In a statement, the firm said the centre will be “situated in the Horizon Business Park south of Dublin Airport [and] the new facility will serve as the FedEx headquarters in Ireland”.

FedEx said the centre will combine multiple of the company’s key operations, including a pickup and delivery station, aircraft operations, customs clearance teams, and other back-office functions.

“With the country exporting over €165bn of goods in 2021, this strategic move demonstrates FedEx’s commitment to a major global trading market,” the firm said.

The facility will feature a warehouse covering over 14,500 sqm and include 30 loading bays for trucks and over 100 loading bays for vans to load and unload shipments.

FedEx added that the facility will include several features aimed at minimising its environmental impact and encouraging sustainability.

These will include rooftop solar panels, insulated ceiling and wall panels, and double-glazed UV protective windows.

Mike Roche, the manager director at FedEx Express Ireland, said the new facility will significantly enhance the company’s offering in Ireland and “sets us and our customers up for future growth in this important market”.

“This new facility will also enable us to reduce transfer times to and from the airport, meaning we’ll continue to provide fast, reliable service to Irish businesses trading within the domestic market or looking to go global,” he said.

FedEx Express Ireland has significantly expanded its operations recently, opening a new €12m handling facility in Cork in February.

The most recent accounts for FedEx Express Ireland show it employed 179 people in the year to the end of May 2022, up from 110 the previous year.

Turnover at the firm surged to just over €51m. This was up from €21.7m in the 12 months to May 2021, although the accounts note the 2021 figures were impacted by a change in accounting practises.

The company recorded an operating profit of €3.4m in its 2022 financial year compared with €732,000 the year before.

Net profits at the business jumped from €440,000 to just over €2.8m.