DHL’s aviation deal with BP takes off in Scotland

DHL started work this week (Monday 4 March) on its three-year deal to handle aviation fuel movements for BP in Scotland.

DHL will take over distribution of fuel from BP’s Grangemouth refinery to airports in Scotland and northern England. DHL already handles many of BP’s aviation fuel deliveries throughout the rest of the UK.

Under the terms of the deal, 15 tanker drivers will transfer from BP to DHL under Tupe regulations.

A DHL spokeswoman said: “DHL already provides these activities for most locations, either directly or via [subcontractor] Lewis Tankers. As a result, Air BP has reached an agreement with DHL to provide all of its aviation fuel deliveries from terminals throughout the UK to regional airport and general aviation customers.”

The transfer has been caught up in an industrial dispute between BP and the aviation drivers, some of whom the Unite union claims will lose thousands of pounds in lost pension and share benefits when they move. This resulted in a 72-hour strike and picket at the Grangemouth refinery by union members last month, although DHL said its contingency planning had minimised disruption.