Behind the scenes at Cologne-Bonn Airport

Headquartered in the US state of Georgia, but just as much at home in nearly every corner the world – that’s UPS, the shipping and supply chain management company officially known as United Parcel Service, Inc. Two NRW ministers recently visited UPS at Cologne-Bonn Airport: Nathanael Liminski, State Minister for Federal, European and International Affairs and the Media and Head of the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and Oliver Krischer, State Minister for the Environment and Transport. The purpose of their late evening visit was to gain insights into the work of UPS there.

Up to 190,000 parcels can be sorted there in one hour. “It was particularly impressive to see how modern technology and human intelligence work hand in hand and complement each other in a smart way”, Minister Liminski commented.

Among other things, the ministers’ visit was prompted by the company’s announcement that they will no longer operate MD-11 flights from their air hub in Cologne. The planes are to be replaced by the quieter and more fuel-efficient 747-8 aircraft type.

“UPS’s decision to withdraw the MD-11 from operations in Cologne is good news for the location, the environment and local residents”, Minister Liminski pointed out. “It demonstrates that economic vitality, ecological responsibility and community interests are compatible. The decision also fits in with our state government’s goal of making NRW the first climate-neutral industrial region in Europe. Plus, with this decision, UPS is committing itself to NRW as a business location. This is good for our small and medium-sized companies that sell their goods all over the world.”