Company profile
European Air Transport Leipzig GmbH (EAT Leipzig) is a German-registered all-cargo airline in the DHL group. Its origins go back to European Air Transport N.V. (EAT Belgium), founded in Belgium in 1971 and based in Brussels, which long provided air carriage for the DHL express network in Europe. To take over the DHL European air hub moving from Brussels to Leipzig, EAT Leipzig GmbH was incorporated in Saxony in November 2005, initially as a maintenance organization, began flight operations at Leipzig/Halle Airport in 2008 and obtained its German air operator certificate (AOC) on 26 March 2010, becoming a German-registered cargo airline; the former Belgian EAT N.V. was subsequently dissolved.
EAT Leipzig is headquartered in Schkeuditz, Germany, next to Leipzig/Halle Airport (IATA LEJ, ICAO EDDP). The airport is the DHL Express European air hub and one of the few European airports built around night cargo operations. The carrier codes are IATA QY and ICAO BCS, with the radio callsign POSTMAN. The company holds both airline and aircraft maintenance (MRO) approvals, has carried out aircraft maintenance in Leipzig since 2008, and runs an Aviation Training Center with Airbus A300 and Boeing 757 full flight simulators for training and technical support of the DHL European fleet.
For Chinese shippers, the positioning matters: EAT Leipzig is the core carrier of the DHL Express European short and medium-haul overnight express network (NX), flying mainly express routes within Europe and its near neighbours (the UK, southern Europe, eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East), and does not itself fly intercontinental routes to Asia or China. The DHL Express intercontinental mainline from China to Europe is flown by AeroLogic, the DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo joint venture, with Boeing 777F freighters into the Leipzig hub, and EAT Leipzig's Airbus A300 and Boeing 757 freighter network then distributes across Europe. EAT Leipzig therefore matters to Chinese shippers as the European distribution carrier after arrival at Leipzig, underpinning next-day network deadlines for Chinese express and urgent cargo.
One point needs stating plainly: EAT Leipzig does not sell loose cargo capacity directly to general trade shippers, and its capacity mainly serves DHL Express documents, parcels and urgent e-commerce products. Chinese shippers using the DHL express network to Europe book capacity and transit time through DHL Express China (Sinotrans-DHL) and DHL Global Forwarding China rather than directly with EAT Leipzig. EAT Leipzig has no public cargo office of its own in China; DHL's China business is handled by DHL Express China and DHL Global Forwarding China.
In operational terms, Leipzig/Halle is one of the few European cargo hubs concentrated on night movements, with DHL Express European express flights arriving and departing through the night and early morning; cargo is sorted, cleared and rebuilt at the hub terminal and leaves for destinations across Europe in the morning on EAT Leipzig freighters. This pattern of night concentration and daytime distribution shapes a fleet built for medium range, high frequency and fast turnaround rather than long-haul heavy cargo. Chinese shippers planning Europe logistics should build it into their transit expectations: the overnight distribution after the intercontinental flight lands at Leipzig is what delivers next-day service across Europe.
International air services connecting from China
EAT Leipzig's own operations are confined to the DHL Express European overnight express network. Cargo shipped to Europe through the DHL system by Chinese shippers lands at the Leipzig hub and connects through EAT Leipzig's European network to Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Poland, Czechia, Hungary and other European countries and cities, extending to Scandinavia, the Iberian peninsula and some eastern European points. On the intercontinental leg, capacity from China to Leipzig is provided by joint venture AeroLogic with Boeing 777F aircraft, which historically routed Leipzig via Bahrain (BAH) to Hong Kong (HKG) and Singapore (SIN) about six times a week.
In the summer 2026 season, DHL Global Forwarding added freighter services toward China on top of existing intercontinental capacity: Shanghai Pudong (PVG) to Leipzig (LEJ) weekly return with Boeing 777F, and Hong Kong (HKG) to Liège (LGG) in Belgium weekly return with a stop at Tel Aviv (TLV) in Israel, both operated within the DHL Aviation system including AeroLogic. These flights supplement DHL Global Forwarding general cargo capacity and, with the EAT Leipzig European distribution network, form the DHL air cargo channel from China to Europe. For Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, EAT Leipzig has no public direct service, and shippers can connect through the DHL channels at Shanghai Pudong or Hong Kong.
By commodity, the network suits DHL Express standard documents, parcels, cross-border e-commerce parcels and urgent shipments, plus high-value goods needing next-day service in Europe; ordinary bulk trade cargo moves more through the DHL Global Forwarding 777F mainline and the Liège hub. Chinese electronic information products, e-commerce parcels, apparel accessories and urgent industrial parts can be distributed from Leipzig to the main European cities the same night, and on the return leg European express shipments, high-value industrial goods and mail move back through the same network. Actual payloads and capacity are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
| Connection direction | Main destinations | What it means for Chinese shippers |
|---|---|---|
| Intercontinental mainline (China to LEJ) | Shanghai Pudong PVG to Leipzig LEJ (weekly B777F in the summer 2026 season); historically via Bahrain to Hong Kong HKG and Singapore SIN | Chinese express and urgent cargo reaches the Leipzig hub non-stop and enters European night distribution on arrival |
| European distribution (EAT network) | Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Benelux, Austria, Poland, the Nordics and major eastern European cities | Distributed by EAT Leipzig freighters overnight, supporting next-day express service across Europe |
| Liège channel (LGG) | Hong Kong HKG to Tel Aviv TLV to Liège LGG (weekly B777F in the summer 2026 season) | South China shippers can connect via Hong Kong to the Liège hub, covering western and southern European markets |
| Backhaul cargo | European express shipments, high-value industrial goods and mail move back to Chinese gateways | Matched express flows in both directions improve overall load factor across the network |
The table summarises the main directions from public sources. Times are local. Actual schedules vary with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Network from China via the Leipzig hub
The diagram shows, from a Europe-Asia perspective, how cargo from China connects through the DHL system to Leipzig (LEJ) and is distributed across Europe by EAT Leipzig. Yellow solid arcs are the intercontinental mainlines from the main Chinese gateways to Leipzig and Liège, flown by AeroLogic and DHL Aviation 777F aircraft, and white arcs are the EAT Leipzig overnight distribution directions within Europe; actual points and frequencies are subject to carrier confirmation on the day.
Freight advantages for Chinese shippers
Core of the European overnight express network
EAT Leipzig is the core carrier of the DHL Express European NX network, with freighters concentrating at the Leipzig hub overnight for distribution, so Chinese express cargo can connect to next-day delivery across Europe after arrival.
Exclusive distribution at the Leipzig hub
LEJ is the DHL European air hub and the EAT fleet operates intensively from it, reaching the main European cities overnight, a distribution density that scattered services cannot match.
Intercontinental 777F mainline
The China to Leipzig sector is flown by joint venture AeroLogic with Boeing 777F aircraft, with high payload and long range, and a new weekly Shanghai-Leipzig service in the summer 2026 season makes connections more stable.
Carrier and maintenance in one
EAT holds both airline and MRO approvals and has A300 and B757 full flight simulators, keeping fleet reliability and on-time performance at a high industry level, which supports schedule stability.
Suited to express and e-commerce
The network is built for documents, parcels and urgent e-commerce, so Chinese cross-border e-commerce and high-value express cargo get a mature next-day network and last-mile connections.
Integrated within the DHL system
Collection in China, the intercontinental mainline, European distribution and last-mile delivery all sit within the DHL system, so tracking and service commitments are continuous and Chinese shippers can handle the whole chain through one point of contact.
Together these strengths define the value of routing Europe-bound cargo from China through Leipzig: the 777F mainline provides stable capacity, the EAT Leipzig overnight distribution network delivers next-day service and the DHL system keeps tracking continuous from collection to delivery. Chinese shippers can choose DHL Express products or the DHL Global Forwarding general cargo channel for their deadlines and destination cities after assessment by our team.
Aircraft types and capacity mix
The EAT Leipzig fleet is built around Airbus A300-600RF and Boeing 757-200PCF aircraft for the European night network, with Airbus A330 freighters being introduced. Third-party fleet counts put the A300-600RF at about 24 to 26 aircraft, the 757-200PCF at about 3 to 9, and the A330-200F and A330-300P2F at about 5 to 6 combined; the DHL website states about 35 owned aircraft in total across Airbus and Boeing. EAT Leipzig itself does not operate Boeing 767 freighters, which are flown mainly by other DHL group companies such as DHL Air UK and DHL Aviation Bahrain. The Boeing 777F on the China intercontinental sector is flown by joint venture AeroLogic and is not part of the EAT Leipzig fleet.
By role, the A300-600RF is the main widebody on the European medium-haul night express network, with a hold that takes large numbers of ULDs and suited to high-frequency rotations from Leipzig to the main European cities. The 757-200PCF is a narrowbody converted freighter, flexible and fuel-efficient, suited to regional and smaller point connections. The A330 freighters offer better fuel burn and payload for growing express volumes and heavier cargo. Payload per type depends on sector length, load and ULD type, and actual payload is subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Airbus A300-600RF
Main widebody freighter on European medium-haul express routes, with a hold suited to ULDs and high-frequency rotations from Leipzig to the main European cities, the core type for NX distribution.
Boeing 757-200PCF
Narrowbody converted freighter, flexible and fuel-efficient, suited to European regional and smaller point connections, providing supplementary capacity and edge-of-network links in the night operation.
Airbus A330-200F / A330-300P2F
Newer widebody freighters with better payload and fuel efficiency, taking growing express volumes and heavier cargo and gradually raising overall network capacity.
Boeing 777F (operated by AeroLogic)
AeroLogic, the DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo joint venture, flies 777F aircraft on the Leipzig intercontinental mainline, covering the China to LEJ sector, with distribution by the EAT network after arrival.
Aircraft counts are compiled from manufacturers, the DHL website and public third-party data and differ between sources; actual payload and fleet size are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Airports served in China and schedule connections
One point needs stating plainly: EAT Leipzig does not itself fly to China. DHL air cargo from China to Europe uses the DHL Aviation system, including joint venture AeroLogic, on the intercontinental sector, and EAT Leipzig handles European distribution after arrival at Leipzig. The table gives indicative routings from the main Chinese gateways through the DHL system to the Leipzig and Liège hubs; times are local, frequencies change with the season and carrier confirmation on the day of booking prevails.
| China origin ports | Connecting hub | Capacity type | Indicative schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong PVG | Leipzig LEJ | DHL Aviation 777F mainline | Weekly return in the summer 2026 season; times are local, frequencies change with the season and carrier confirmation on the day of booking prevails |
| Hong Kong HKG | Liège LGG (with a stop at Tel Aviv TLV) | DHL Aviation 777F | Weekly return in the summer 2026 season; historically Leipzig routed via Bahrain to Hong Kong and Singapore about six times a week, and actual frequencies are subject to carrier confirmation |
| Beijing PEK / Guangzhou CAN / Shenzhen SZX | Connect via PVG, HKG or the DHL domestic network | DHL Express domestic consolidation | EAT Leipzig has no public direct service, so shipping through Shanghai or Hong Kong is advised |
| European distribution leg | Major European cities | EAT Leipzig A300 / B757 / A330 | Overnight distribution at the Leipzig hub, connecting to European last-mile delivery the next day; specifics follow the flight plan of the day |
Cargo sales for this system in China is handled by DHL Express China (Sinotrans-DHL) and DHL Global Forwarding China. EAT Leipzig has no public cargo office of its own in China, and capacity and connections are confirmed with us on the day of booking.
Cargo booking and connection path in China
Submit shipping instructions
The shipper gives us the origin gateway, destination city in Europe, commodity, pieces, weight and dimensions and transit time requirements, and we decide between DHL Express products and the DHL Global Forwarding general cargo channel.
Access to DHL channels in China
We book intercontinental mainline capacity through DHL Express China or DHL Global Forwarding China, confirming the Shanghai-Leipzig or Hong Kong-Liège flight, the rate and the ULD type.
Intercontinental mainline departure
After handover at the Chinese gateway, the 777F mainline carries the cargo to the Leipzig or Liège hub, where it enters the EAT Leipzig European overnight distribution network.
European distribution and delivery
EAT Leipzig freighters distribute the cargo to European destination cities overnight and connect to DHL last-mile delivery, completing a continuous flow from collection in China to delivery in Europe.
During booking, note that EAT Leipzig does not sell capacity directly to loose cargo shippers; Chinese shippers should book through DHL Express China, DHL Global Forwarding China or their authorized freight forwarders. Flight times are local, frequencies change with the season and carrier confirmation on the day of booking prevails. Express shipments, urgent e-commerce cargo and temperature-controlled goods must be declared at the instruction stage, and we will help confirm the product type, capacity and loading conditions.
Specialist freight services from China
DHL Express overnight express network.EAT Leipzig is the core carrier of the DHL Express European NX network, and DHL express cargo from China is distributed across Europe the same night it lands at Leipzig, supporting next-day service for documents, parcels and urgent cargo; this is the network's central value.
Intercontinental 777F mainline.The China to Leipzig sector is flown by joint venture AeroLogic with Boeing 777F aircraft, with high payload and long range, and a new weekly Shanghai-Leipzig service in the summer 2026 season adds stable intercontinental capacity for Chinese urgent cargo and express shipments.
The Liège channel covers western and southern Europe.The weekly 777F service Hong Kong to Tel Aviv to Liège gives south China shippers a route into western and southern Europe via Hong Kong; the Liège and Leipzig hubs complement each other and add options when peak-season capacity is tight.
Urgent e-commerce service.The network is built for small cross-border e-commerce parcels and replenishment, so Chinese electronic information products, apparel accessories and urgent industrial parts can be distributed to the main European markets the same night after landing in Leipzig, matching small-lot, high-frequency replenishment.
Fleet maintenance and training support.EAT holds MRO approval and has A300 and B757 full flight simulators, keeping fleet reliability and on-time performance at a high industry level, which supports stable night operations and service delivery.
Return express and high-value cargo.Urgent express shipments, high-value industrial goods and mail from Europe move back to Chinese gateways through the same network; matched express flows in both directions help keep overall capacity supply and rate levels stable.
Declaring sensitive and special cargo.Shipments involving dangerous goods, lithium batteries, magnetic cargo and temperature-controlled goods must be declared in advance under DHL Express and carrier rules, and we help confirm acceptance, packing requirements and documents.
Consolidation from second-tier Chinese cities.Cargo from the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Chengdu-Chongqing region can be consolidated on the DHL domestic network to Shanghai Pudong or Hong Kong, then fly as one shipment to the Leipzig hub and distribute across Europe, cutting handling costs for multi-point delivery.
China contact
EAT Leipzig, as a German-registered cargo airline, has no public cargo office of its own in China. DHL's China business is handled by DHL Express China (Sinotrans-DHL) and DHL Global Forwarding China, with sales and booking through official DHL China channels and authorized local agents. The group website is dhl.com, and the joint venture intercontinental carrier AeroLogic is at aerologic.aero; flight and shipment status can be checked on DHL platforms. Office addresses and contact details follow the latest published DHL information and may change with business adjustments.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, website https://goodhope86.com, accepts air cargo instructions from major Chinese gateways to Leipzig and other European destinations through the DHL system. We handle booking in China, intercontinental connections on the Shanghai-Leipzig or Hong Kong-Liège mainlines, European distribution and return consolidation as one service, and can help Chinese shippers reach DHL Express China and DHL Global Forwarding China for current capacity, schedules and product information.