The Slovenian branch of global logistics firm DHL opened a terminal at the Joze Pucnik Ljubljana Airport that will serve as the base for the company's operations in Slovenia.

DHL Express Slovenija set up its base in the new US$4.25 million terminal owned by airport operator Aerodrom Ljubljana and construction firm GH Holding. The building is the first in a series that will form the new business and logistics zone at the airport, dubbed Airport City.

DHL Express Slovenija, the subsidiary of German group DHL, will combine its two core operations in Slovenia - sorting of express parcels and collection of freight parcels.

DHL Express Slovenija commanded nearly 60 percent of the Slovenian market in express postal services. He said the company expected the market to continue growing at a healthy pace.

In order to cater for the growing demand, the company intends to begin using a Boeing 757 cargo plane to service the terminal in Ljubljana, significantly increasing capacity. With this the terminal will also become DHL's hub for the Austrian region of Carinthia, parts of Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Croatia.

The airport operator wanted to turn Joze Pucnik Airport into a logistics and business hub connecting road, air and railway transport. Talks were underway on connecting the airport to the railway system.