The award follows a competitive public tender by the airport operator and enables dnata to continue providing high-quality ground handling services at AMS for the next seven years, as Schiphol moves into the next phase of its ground handling operations.

dnata has been serving airline customers in Amsterdam for more than a decade, providing passenger, baggage, ramp and cargo services to a diverse portfolio of major international carriers and specialist operators. The company currently supports more than 20 passenger and cargo airlines at Schiphol, with a team of over 1,200 employees handling approximately 500,000 tonnes of cargo and around 16,000 flights each year.

Thiemo van Spellen, Managing Director, dnata Netherlands, said: “We are proud to continue our ground handling operations at Amsterdam Schiphol. This award reflects the trust placed in our people, our operational capabilities and our commitment to delivering safe, reliable and consistent services for airlines and passengers.

“Schiphol is a critical hub in European aviation, and this is an important moment for the airport’s ground handling community. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Schiphol, our airline customers, employees, unions and industry partners as the airport enters its next phase. Together, we remain focused on supporting smooth operations, high service standards and a resilient operating environment.”

With the seven-year license secured, dnata is well positioned to build on its existing operations at Schiphol, deepen customer partnerships and pursue new growth opportunities. The company’s dedicated local team will work closely with Schiphol and airline partners throughout the transition into the new license period.

The renewed mandate also highlights dnata’s broader commitment to Amsterdam and the Netherlands, where the company continues to invest in its people, infrastructure and operational capabilities. This includes dnata Cargo City Amsterdam, one of the largest facilities of its kind, with an annual capacity of 600,000 tonnes and representing a €70 million investment. The facility forms part of dnata’s long-term plans at Schiphol, alongside continued investment in ground support equipment, environmental management, operational excellence and customer partnerships.

Amsterdam remains a key station in dnata’s European network. Across the Netherlands, dnata combines local expertise with the scale, systems and standards of a global aviation services provider, supporting customers across passenger, ramp and cargo operations at Schiphol.

Globally, dnata provides ground handling, cargo, travel, catering and retail services in 37 countries across six continents. In the financial year 2025-26, dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled 888,793 aircraft turns and moved 3.2 million tonnes of cargo.

New developments in The Netherlands, UAE and Iraq are set to go live in 2025, strengthening dnata’s cargo and logistics capabilities across its global operations.

“As supply chains evolve and customer expectations shift, we’re focused on investing in infrastructure that’s fit for purpose today and adaptable for tomorrow”, said Clive Sauvé-Hopkins, dnata’s CEO – Airport Operations. “Our latest investments prioritise automation, scalability and energy efficiency, enabling us to support our customers more effectively in a fast-changing logistics environment.”

Future-ready infrastructure to meet shifting market trends

All three new dnata facilities have been designed to reduce manual handling, improve real-time visibility, and enable scalable automation. Their modular architecture allows for future technology upgrades and operational flexibility. Integrated sustainability features will help drive long-term energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

• Amsterdam, The Netherlands: dnata is investing more than US$ 70 million in a 61,000 m², fully-automated cargo centre -dnata Cargo City Amsterdam- at Schiphol Airport (AMS), set to open in July 2025. The facility will be capable of processing more than 850,000 tonnes of cargo annually. It will feature the latest technologies, including automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for flexible, scalable ULD transport within the terminal.

dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will also offer full AWB (air waybill) control across the entire facility, allowing complete oversight of shipment progress and documentation. Operations will be centrally managed via dnata’s Cargo Control Centre, with live process visibility for real-time coordination.  Smart gates will automatically record the volume and weight of all incoming consignments using 3D scanning, significantly improving handling speed and service quality. A forklift guidance system will support optimised movement and placement of cargo within the warehouse. Additionally, the facility will perform 100% weight and dimension checks, ensuring accuracy and compliance for every shipment. 

• Erbil, Iraq: dnata is building a 20,000 m² cargo facility through a US$ 15 million investment, scheduled to become operational in July 2025. The facility will increase dnata’s handling capacity by 300% to 66,000 tonnes annually in the country. It will incorporate dnata’s ‘OneCargo’ system which automates key business and operational functions, including safety and quality monitoring, reporting and ULD management, with an integrated, cloud-based platform. 
   
• Dubai, UAE: dnata Logistics is developing a new 57,000m² cargo centre at Dubai South, backed by a US$ 27 million investment. Due for completion by the end of 2025, the facility will process up to 400,000 tonnes of cargo annually.  The fully temperature-controlled warehouse will feature a mix of very narrow and wide aisle racking, along with truck loading and offloading areas to optimise operational efficiency.

Clive Sauvé-Hopkins added: “These projects are designed to deliver measurable gains in performance, traceability and resource efficiency. They form a key part of our long-term strategy to enhance service quality while building a more resilient, data-driven cargo operation.”

dnata leadership to speak at World Cargo Symposium 

dnata executives will take part in key discussions at the IATA World Cargo Symposium, sharing perspectives on innovation, digital infrastructure, and the industry’s path to greater operational and environmental efficiency.

These include:

• 15 April, 10:00 – 10:30, Opening plenary, Executive roundtable
  Clive Sauvé-Hopkins, CEO, Airport Operations
   
• 15 April, 16:00 – 16:45, Opening plenary, Digital transformation & AI Use Cases
  Carly Abbott, Vice President, IT Product Delivery
   
• 16 April, 09:10 – 09:25, Sustainability stream, Keynote
  Noor Salman, Vice President, Cargo Business Support
   
• 16 April, 09:15 – 09:30, Digitisation stream, Keynote
  Guillaume Crozier, Chief Cargo Officer
   
• 16 April, 11:30 – 12:30, Safety & Security stream, Spotlight 1: Pharma
  Syed Haris Raza, Vice President of Cargo, dnata USA
   
• 17 April, 09:25 – 10:15, ULD Forum – Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced ULD Operations
  Sam Gould, Head of Cargo Services, dnata Singapore
   

dnata: a leading global cargo services provider

dnata provides quality and safe ground handling and cargo services at more than 90 airports in 16 countries. In the financial year 2023-24, dnata’s teams handled 2.9 million tonnes of cargo globally, which represents a 5% growth year over year.

IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) is a certification programme developed to independently assess the commitment of aviation stakeholders such as airlines, airports, cargo handling facilities, freight forwarders, and ramp handlers, to continuously improve their environmental and sustainability performance.

IATA’s comprehensive evaluation rigorously assessed dnata’s sustainability practices and efforts across its extensive operations at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). 

Jan van Anrooy, Managing Director, dnata Netherlands, said: “We are proud to be the first ground handler to earn the prestigious IEnvA certification in Europe. This accomplishment reflects our team’s dedication to environmental efficiency and our consistent efforts to contribute to dnata’s global decarbonisation journey. We will continue investing in infrastructure, equipment and process improvement to further reduce our environmental footprint.”

Rafael Schvartzman, Regional Vice President Europe, IATA, said: “We congratulate dnata Netherlands on becoming the first ground and cargo handler in Europe to achieve full IEnvA registration. This significant milestone demonstrates dnata Schiphol’s commitment to sustainable aviation and environmental excellence. By adhering to global environmental standards and best practices, dnata Schiphol is setting a strong example for the industry. We look forward to working together to further advance sustainable aviation practices.”

Consistent investments in operations to enhance environmental efficiency

In recent years, dnata Netherlands has significantly invested in the electrification of its ground handling fleet to reduce emissions. Currently, more than 70% of its ground support equipment fleet is powered by electricity or solar energy, with the remainder operating on 100% Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO100) biofuel.  

dnata’s newest facility, dnata Cargo City Amsterdam, was also designed with a laser focus on sustainability. Scheduled to open in 2025, the facility will be equipped with solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations and air source heat pumps. The cargo centre will be BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) certified. 

dnata Netherlands: a leading ground and cargo services provider at Amsterdam Schiphol

dnata is a leading provider of ground and cargo handling services in Amsterdam. It serves 37 airlines with a team of 1,000 dedicated aviation professionals, who handle 10,000 flights and move 550,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

Significant improvement in environmental performance globally

Globally, dnata recently reported significant improvements across key environmental performance metrics for the financial year 2023-24. As a result of its consistent approach and initiatives, the company cut the carbon intensity of its operations by over 8%, 22% and 26% across its airport operations, travel and catering businesses, respectively. All data has been validated by Verifavia, an independent accredited environmental verification and auditing body.

In addition to The Netherlands, dnata also earned the IEnvA certification for its diverse portfolio of businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and Air Dolomiti operate a range of narrow-body Airbus and Embraer aircraft between the Dutch capital and four cities: Frankfurt and Munich in Germany, Zürich in Switzerland, and Vienna in Austria.

Jan van Anrooy, Managing Director, dnata Netherlands, said: “We are proud to partner with Lufthansa Group, supporting them with our quality services above and below the wing. Our deep understanding of customers needs will ensure a safe and smooth journey for passengers. We look forward to a successful partnership with Lufthansa Group in Amsterdam.”

dnata consistently invests in infrastructure, equipment and technologies to enhance its offering in Amsterdam. In addition to the ongoing construction of dnata Cargo City Amsterdam, one of the world’s most advanced facilities of its kind, it has recently taken delivery of a fleet of electric smart cars in an effort to replace all airside diesel vehicles in its fleet at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. As a result of its latest investment, more than 65% of dnata’s 250 pieces of ground support equipment (GSE) is electric or powered by solar energy in The Netherlands.

dnata currently provides ground and cargo handling services to 37 airlines in Amsterdam with a team of 1,000 dedicated aviation professionals, who handle 10,000 flights and move 550,000 tonnes of cargo annually. 

dnata is a leading global air and travel services provider. Established in 1959, the company offers quality and safe ground handling, cargo, travel, catering and retail services in over 30 countries across six continents. In the financial year 2022-23, dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled over 710,000 aircraft turns, moved over 2.7 million tonnes of cargo, uplifted 111.4 million meals, and recorded a total transaction value (TTV) of travel services of US$ 1.9 billion.

The company has taken delivery of 15 electric smart cars, and will soon receive five more, replacing all airside diesel vehicles in its fleet at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) in The Netherlands. This transition follows the installation of airside-based electric vehicle charging infrastructure at AMS, allowing dnata an immediate shift to sustainable transport. 

As a result of its latest investment, more than 65% of dnata’s 250 pieces of ground support equipment (GSE) is now electric or powered by solar energy in The Netherlands. The remaining legacy GSE is fuelled by 100% hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) biofuel, resulting in a 90% reduction in total carbon dioxide emissions throughout its lifecycle.

Jan van Anrooy, Managing Director, dnata Netherlands, said: “We are committed to investing in green equipment and infrastructure to maximise environmental efficiency across our operations. Through close collaboration with our partners, we have promptly leveraged the airport’s new infrastructure by replacing our entire car fleet. As a result, over two-thirds of our fleet now operates on electric power or solar energy.

“We will continue our efforts to further reduce our environmental footprint, contributing to dnata’s commitment to reduce global carbon emissions.”

dnata currently provides ground and cargo handling services to 37 airlines in Amsterdam with a team of 1,000 dedicated aviation professionals, who handle 10,000 flights and move 550,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

dnata is a leading global air and travel services provider. Established in 1959, the company offers quality and safe ground handling, cargo, travel, catering and retail services in over 30 countries across six continents. In the financial year 2022-23, dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled over 710,000 aircraft turns, moved over 2.7 million tonnes of cargo, uplifted 111.4 million meals, and recorded a total transaction value (TTV) of travel services of US$ 1.9 billion.

Upon implementation, EASA’s Regulation will establish a more standardised environment, which will help enhance safety, operational delivery, cybersecurity, and consistency within the region.

Until now, the ground handling industry has largely operated under self-regulation, with operational arrangements, including safety considerations, primarily addressed in bilateral service agreements between ground handling service providers and the respective aircraft operators.

EASA’s Regulation is scheduled for publication in late 2024 or early 2025. The proposal includes a suggested three-year transition period for implementation post-publication. dnata anticipates a smooth transition, proactively aligning its practices with the forthcoming regulatory framework.

dnata is a leading global air and travel services provider. Established in 1959, the company offers quality and safe ground handling, cargo, travel, catering and retail services in over 30 countries across six continents. In the financial year 2022-23, company’s customer-oriented teams handled over 710,000 aircraft turns, moved over 2.7 million tonnes of cargo, uplifted 111.4 million meals, and recorded a total transaction value (TTV) of travel services of US$ 1.9 billion.

Orchids, chrysanthemums, and the ever-popular roses are the most popular types of 27,000 tonnes of flowers imported, arriving daily into the European continent from key source markets in East Africa and South America. One of the busiest times of the year is the two- to three-week window before Valentine’s Day in February, with multiple freight aircraft arriving each day to supply Europe’s love birds.

dnata’s Amsterdam facilities also manage the export of 15,000 tonnes of flowers annually, primarily the home-grown gerbera, gypsophila and peonies.

Jan van Anrooy, Managing Director, dnata Netherlands, said: “Understanding our customers’ requirements is crucial to ensuring perishable items such as flowers preserve their freshness and longevity, maintaining the value for our customers. Our customer-oriented team and best-in-class facilities ensure that perishable cargo is processed quickly and efficiently throughout the transportation process.”

Speed and temperature key

In order to maintain temperature control of flowers, speed of handling while limiting manhandling of the product is key, from unloading off the aircraft, into the dnata facility and on to the trucks and freight forwarders. dnata’s highly-trained teams can typically empty a full freighter aircraft of flowers, and load them on to forwarding trucks in around 90 minutes. If required, dnata’s cool chain facilities at its Amsterdam hub provide cold storage to maintain freshness, before they are transported to market, auctioned and distributed throughout Europe.

Major investment in cargo operations

dnata currently provides ground and cargo handling services to 37 airlines at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) with a team of 1,000 dedicated aviation professionals, who handle 10,000 flights and move 540,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

In 2024 dnata will significantly enhance its operations in The Netherlands by opening a fully automated cargo centre, dnata Cargo City Amsterdam at AMS. One of the largest and most advanced facilities of its kind, including certifications for sustainability and eco-friendly design, the 61,000 m2 facility will use cutting-edge technologies and be capable of processing over 850,000 tonnes of cargo annually. This will include perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods, mail, live animals, aircraft engines and vehicles.

Global certifications

dnata’s Amsterdam facilities are certified by IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma). This demonstrates the company’s ability to move pharmaceutical products under the strictest standards. Further certification for Good Distribution Practice (GDP) describes the minimum standards that a wholesale distributor must meet to ensure that the quality and integrity of medicines is maintained throughout the supply chain. These certifications demonstrate dnata’s dedication to good distributive practices and quality in every aspect of service delivery.

dnata is a leading global air and travel services provider. Established in 1959, the company offers quality and safe ground handling, cargo, travel, catering and retail services in 38 countries across six continents. In the financial year 2022-23, dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled over 710,000 aircraft turns, moved over 2.7 million tonnes of cargo, uplifted 111.4 million meals, and recorded a total transaction value (TTV) of travel services of US$ 1.9 billion.

In June 2022, dnata announced that it would invest US$100 million in green operations in two years to further enhance its global environmental efficiency globally.

Steve Allen, CEO of dnata Group, said: “We are proud to have made significant progress on improving our environmental performance since the announcement of our strategic objectives. I thank each member of our team for their hard work and contribution to our green initiatives that help us make a difference across our global operations. 

“We will continue our investments and efforts alongside our partners to further reduce our environmental footprint.”

Investing in renewable energy

As part of its efforts to further improve global resource efficiency, dnata has continued to make significant investments in renewable energy. This includes the installation of rooftop solar power systems across its existing facilities.

dnata has installed solar panels at its operating facilities in Singapore, and at its SnapFresh facility in Australia. These generate over 4,300 MWh of renewable electricity annually, saving approximately 1.85 million kilogrammes of carbon dioxide emissions. Phase 1 of a solar PV panel installation in Pakistan also commenced, which is expected to generate 244,000 kWh per annum. Furthermore, all electricity purchased in the UK and Ireland is from renewables from local grids.

Conserving water

In addition to solar power, dnata is investing in systems to collect and re-use condensate from air conditioning units and rainwater at both of its existing and new facilities. These initiatives optimise water usage and associated costs.

dnata’s new 20,000m2 cargo facility in Iraq, which will begin operations in 2024, will include environmentally sustainable features including a rooftop rainwater harvesting system. This will capture, treat and store rainwater in underground tanks, feeding irrigation systems within the facility as well as for potable uses, achieving a 50% saving on water costs by 2025. The system has also been configured in the Philippines using the same technology, but to collect and recycle rainwater for drinking and washing purposes. This technology will also shortly be implemented at dnata’s Singapore facilities.

With the UAE’s dry climate, dnata has installed a Reverse Osmosis Plant to re-use condensate water from the cooling systems in its cargo warehouses in Dubai. This has resulted in 5,000 litres of water per day being reused for washing and cleaning.

dnata also launched a bottle-free drinking water system at its Corporate Headquarters, dnata Travel Centre and Alpha catering facilities, which will reduce plastic consumption and conserve over 95,000 litres of bottled water per year.

Transforming GSE fleet and using biofuels

dnata continues to invest in the electrification of its ground handling fleet, and the use of biofuels where feasible, to reduce emissions. More than 15% of the company’s global fleet is now electrified. dnata is continuing to support its global airport partners to prepare the infrastructure for further electrification.

dnata understands that electrification is not the only solution to its ground handling fleet strategy. It carefully considers airports’ climatic conditions and available infrastructure, and invests in a mix of equipment types, including biodiesel, electric, hydrogen and hybrid to maximise environmental and operational efficiency globally.

As part of the crucial role that it plays during busy winter operations in Switzerland, dnata added five new hybrid de-icing trucks to its ground support equipment (GSE) fleet in 2022. This increased the number of electric GSE in its operations in the country to 35%. In The Netherlands, dnata switched to 100% biofuel for all its legacy GSE fleet in January 2023, marking another milestone in its sustainable journey in Amsterdam, where 55% of its fleet is electric.

Reducing waste to landfill

In order to reduce its carbon footprint in ways other than emissions, dnata is determined to reduce waste to landfill, and is collaborating with industry leaders and policymakers on the treatment of international catering waste. In close co-ordination with the airport community to enhance the segregation and retrieval of recyclables airside, dnata is targeting a 20% diversion of waste from landfill by 2024. In addition, dnata is investing in sustainable solutions for cargo waste materials, such as transport belts and nets that are currently destined for landfill.

dnata Catering’s retail division is also working closely with its airline partners, introducing the pre-ordering of passenger inflight meals. This cuts significant food wastage, and therefore the need for airlines to burn larger quantities of fuel to transport heavier aircraft, reducing emissions.

IATA’s IEnvA Programme

In December 2022, dnata signed up to the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on globally recognised environmental and sustainability standards, as well as industry best practices. It is a commitment to continually improve environmental sustainability within the aviation field and is focused specifically on dnata’s core operations. These include cargo handling facilities, catering, freight forwarders, and ramp handlers. dnata is working towards full certification prior to the end of 2023.

United Nations Global Impact

dnata also joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a voluntary global initiative that promotes responsible business practices, and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals. dnata has committed to implement the Ten Principles of the UNGC in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. dnata will benefit from access to the UNGC’s extensive tools and resources to engage with its employees across the globe and improve their learning and training in Sustainability.

dnata is a leading global air and travel services provider. Established in 1959, the company offers quality and safe ground handling, cargo, travel, catering and retail services in 38 countries across six continents. In the financial year 2022-23, dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled over 710,000 aircraft turns, moved over 2.7 million tonnes of cargo, uplifted 111.4 million meals, and recorded a total transaction value (TTV) of travel services of US$ 1.9 billion.

As one of the largest and most advanced facilities of its kind, dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will significantly enhance cargo capacity in The Netherlands and create new, direct jobs with dnata.  It will enable dnata and its customers to substantially expand operations and business, stimulating local economy and trade.

Located at Schiphol South-East, the 61,000 m² facility will include increased warehouse space, and be capable of processing over 850,000 tonnes of cargo annually. It will comply with the highest industry standards ensuring efficient and safe handling of all types of cargo, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods, mail, live animals, aircraft engines and vehicles. 

dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will be developed by Schiphol Commercial Real Estate and equipped by Lödige Industries with cutting-edge technologies. The project is Schiphol Real Estate’s largest ever commercial property development at AMS. Furthermore, the project will earn BREEAM excellent certification for sustainability and eco-friendly design of the facility.

Today’s announcement underlines dnata’s relentless commitment to providing world-class safety and services through the latest technologies, under all market conditions. Over the past years, dnata has continued to make strategic investments in its operations to further enhance its service offering. This included the opening of new, state-of-the-art cargo facilities in Manchester (UK), Karachi and Lahore (Pakistan), and additional cargo capacity and infrastructure in Brussels (Belgium), Sydney (Australia) and Toronto (Canada). In addition, this March dnata will open the second phase of the dnata City East project at London Heathrow (UK).

dnata currently provides passenger, ground handling and cargo services to 29 airlines at AMS. dnata The Netherlands‘ customer-oriented team consists of 1,000 aviation professionals, who assist over 1.5 million passengers, ensure the smooth operations of some 8,000 flights, and handle 580,000 tons of cargo annually.

David Barker, dnata’s Divisional Senior Vice President for Airport Operations, said: "We are thrilled to announce a massive, long-term investment in our cargo operations. dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will be a game changer in the regional cargo industry, delivering significant commercial benefits for our partners, their customers and the local economy.

“Our new cargo facility will enable us to meet the rapidly growing demand for our efficient and reliable services, providing best-in-class solutions to our customers. In addition, it will help us continue to consistently deliver on our two core promises of quality and safety. We thank Schiphol Airport’s teams for their support and are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership to strengthen Amsterdam’s position as a leading cargo hub in the continent.

“We continue to invest in infrastructure, equipment and cutting-edge technologies with a clear focus on sustainability to further enhance our offering and offset our carbon footprint across our global network.”

Jan Willem Weissink, Managing Director,Schiphol Commercial, said:  “Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is Europe’s best-connected airport, with the most direct air destinations. The cargo operation is of critical importance to our airport’s network which became even more evident during the COVID pandemic. Together with dnata and other partners, Schiphol is working on a highly successful, efficient and sustainable cargo operation. We are delighted to have started the construction of dnata Cargo City Amsterdam for one of our most important partners in the cargo operation at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol”.

dnata Cargo City Amsterdam will be equipped with two separate automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), using the latest technology from Lödige, for import and export with twelve stacker cranes. A total of up to 2,500 pallets will be stored here. In addition, a separate storage for ULDs will be serviced by four elevating transport vehicles (ETV). 

dnata will also make use of seven intelligent automated guided vehicles (AGV) to enable flexible and scalable ULD transport within the terminal. These AGVs, which represent a recent product innovation of Lödige Industries, will be applied here for the first time on a large scale. Another special feature will be the implementation of smart gates, which automatically record the volume and weight of all incoming consignments by scanning them in 3D, thus significantly speeding up handling and improving the quality of service.

All elements will be integrated into a comprehensive high performance warehouse management system to enable dnata to further grow its operations and service at Schiphol. The high level of automation will not only save dnata space and time, but will also increase safety and free up staff for higher-value tasks.

As one of the world’s leading air services providers, dnata provides quality and reliable ground handling, cargo, catering and retail services at over 120 airports in 14 countries.

In his new role, Stewart will lead dnata’s airport operations at 23 airports in 6 countries across the continent, managing 6,300 highly-trained employees. Stewart will be based in the UK, and report to David Barker, dnata’s Divisional Senior Vice President for Airport Operations.

Stewart has over 20 years of experience in leading high-performing teams in the aviation industry. Most recently he was based in Dubai, UAE, overseeing dnata’s airport operations globally for 16 years. Stewart left dnata in the summer of 2021 to move to the UK for family reasons. Prior to joining dnata, he held various management roles at Emirates Airline and British Airways. Stewart’s appointment is effective 29 November 2021.

David Barker said: “We are thrilled to welcome Stewart back to our international management team. A widely recognised leader, Stewart made a significant contribution to dnata’s global expansion over the past two decades. He lives and breathes the dnata values and has the unique experience of building and running successful, customer-oriented businesses on an international level. I’m sure that our customers, teams and the company will benefit from his leadership across our European operations."

A trusted partner of over 300 airline customers, dnata provides quality and safe ground handling, cargo, catering and travel services in 35 countries. In the financial year 2020-21 dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled 290,000 aircraft, moved 2.7 million tons of cargo, and uplifted some 17 million meals.

Passengers flying from Schiphol Airport can already pre-order meals through the ‘Takeaway’ app up to one hour before boarding. Customers can choose from a range of fresh salads, poke bowls, sushi platters and delicious hot meals and have their order delivered to the aircraft prior to departure.

Transavia, part of the Air France-KLM Group, launched the service from Schiphol Airport in September, with a planned roll out to more Transavia destinations in the near future.

Robin Padgett, Divisional Senior Vice President of dnata’s catering division, said the initiative opened up the global airline food and beverage market to high-street brands, labelling it a step-change in the inflight dining experience.

“App-led food delivery services continue to grow immensely across the world, with the ease of use, choice of cuisine and loyalty driving incredible consumer uptake.

“By partnering with the leader in this field, we’re able to deliver exactly what customers want to their seat. Passengers are no longer restricted to what’s available in the air.

“This model enables our airline partners to offer their passengers a wider choice of fresh, healthy food and reduce wastage on-board.”

Jaap Roukens, the founder of iFLEAT, added: “My focus has always been on improving the passenger experience. With this new service offering and through technology, we’re putting choice in the customers’ hands and delivering a revenue-generating service for airlines, while also reducing food waste on board.

“We’re excited to now expand this pre-order service to dnata’s more than 120 locations across the world.”

The time taken between placing an order and delivery to the passenger on-board is in-line or quicker than expected delivery times in many city environments.

dnata and iFLEAT are now planning a further rollout of this innovative service which is a perfect complement to existing inflight retail and catering services.

dnata provides reliable and safe air services to over 300 airlines around the world. The company’s catering division has a dedicated team of employees delivering high-quality catering, inflight retail and food & beverage solutions from 65 facilities in 12 countries.

“We have always taken pride in offering quality special handling, and are now extending our capabilities of pharma cargo handling. This will not only instill confidence in the industry but also showcase our capabilities to meet the specific needs of our customers,” said Erik de Goeij, CEO dnata Netherlands. “The seamless movement of important temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products is one of our core skills, and we are proud to provide the highest levels of service and support to our customers.” 

dnata has always been a frontrunner in the area of special handling in the airfreight industry, and with this development, it has cemented its position as an innovator. The dnata facility has been GDP (Good Distribution Practice) certified since April 2016, and with the completion of the IATA certification for CEIV (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators), dnata is geared to handle the timely and secure transport of high-value, temperature sensitive pharmaceutical shipments, estimated to be at 40,000kg for 2017. 

To support this growth, dnata has hired an additional 40 employees. dnata’s business in Amsterdam now provides passenger, baggage, ramp, and cargo handling services to many major airlines from around the world. The contract with Onur Air is a vote of confidence in dnata’s consistent and quality service, and dedicated team.

“The start of our passenger handling operations was the next logical step for us here in Amsterdam” says Erik de Goeij, CEO dnata Netherlands. “We are excited about the growth prospects and synergies this will bring to us and our customers, many of whom we already know well through our existing cargo partnerships.”

In April, dnata will further boost its passenger service offering by extending its contract with Emirates, and will offer passenger services for its double daily flights from Dubai, operated with an A380 aircraft with a capacity of 519 passengers on each flight.

The dnata team continues to win new business with its attention to meeting the customer’s requirements, and its commitment to maintaining the integrity of airline schedules, with over 2,800 aircraft turnarounds, and over 414,000 tonnes of cargo handled in Amsterdam last year. 

China Eastern operates four weekly flights between Shanghai and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol using the Airbus A330 aircraft. dnata Amsterdam already handles cargo for China Cargo Airlines the subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines and now successfully brings into its portfolio, the cargo handling contract for the China Eastern flights expecting to handle over 2000 tons of cargo annually for the airline.    

“We are honoured that China Eastern has selected dnata to be their preferred cargo handling partner. It underpins our ability and innate understanding of the requirements of Asian carriers, to provide them with the service they expect. As China’s outbound travel continues to rise, we look forward to handling higher volumes for our customers,” said Mr. Erik de Goeij CEO dnata, The Netherlands. 

Established in 1959, dnata is one of the world’s largest air services providers offering ground handling, cargo, travel, IT solutions and flight catering services across six continents. The company has an outstanding reputation for providing high quality, customer-orientated assistance and has a global reach extending to 75 countries.