By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Six months after a major merger that shook up the domestic air freight market, DHL Worldwide Express says integration with the former Airborne Express is all but complete.

The new company is launching new U.S. products and branding, it said.

But company officials say the new efforts won't have any immediate effect on its operations locally, which include two hubs.

DHL bought the ground assets of Airborne Express in March 2003 for about $1.05 billion.

Just months after the purchase, DHL opened a $214 million hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, while Airborne owned and operated its own airport and hub in Wilmington just north of Cincinnati, both of which DHL took over in the merger.

Both continue to operate as before, company officials say, adding that no decisions on consolidation or changes have been made with the new effort.

The two companies employ more than 8,300 workers at the two sites: Airborne has 6,500 employees in Wilmington, and DHL has more than 1,800 locally.

The merger was seen as a way for DHL to get into the lucrative U.S. overnight express market and challenge stalwarts FedEx and United Parcel Service. Both of those companies have mounted several legal challenges to DHL, especially the ownership structure of Astar Airlines, which operates out of Cincinnati, but to no avail.

"The culmination of many months of planning and preparation has paid off, as business shippers now have access to a new, dynamic alternative in the U.S. market," said John Fellows, chief executive officer of DHL Holdings (USA) Inc.

The new effort, unveiled Tuesday, includes a single Web site to place orders, a consolidated sales force and telephone order line, an expanded line of overnight offerings and rebranding all trucks, planes, drop boxes and packaging with DHL's distinctive bright yellow and red color scheme.

E-mail jpilcher@enquirer.com