A new survey by the catering and retail arm of dnata, one of the world’s largest travel and aviation service providers, reveals that nearly half of UK passengers now put health and wellbeing at the heart of their inflight choices, signalling a shift towards lighter, more functional food in the skies.

According to the nationwide poll of 2,000 adults, 47% of UK flyers surveyed are/would be more conscious of wellness over indulgence when selecting meals and drinks onboard than they were five years ago. More than half (56%) want fresh, minimally processed ingredients, while 50% say airlines should offer low-sugar or low-carb options to better reflect modern eating habits.

From hydration-focused menus to immune-supporting snacks, travellers are bringing the same expectations they set for themselves at the start of the year into their time in the air.

Wellness takes off

Health and wellbeing are increasingly shaping how passengers approach flying, with inflight food and drink now seen as part of a broader self-care routine. This is reflected in what travellers want to see onboard, with 53% calling for more hydrating food and drink options such as electrolyte water and vitamin-infused beverages, 45% looking for more protein-rich meals, and 46% wanting low-calorie or portion-controlled meals.

The rise of the functional flyer

The appetite for functional nutrition is taking off. Nearly one in five passengers (19%) said they would pay extra for inflight meals or drinks that support gut health or immunity, while around 41% say they have already swapped alcohol for juices or vitamin-infused beverages when flying.1

Younger travellers are leading this shift, steering the inflight experience towards a balance of health and enjoyment – favouring protein-forward meals, plant-based dishes, and beverages designed to hydrate and revitalise.

“Inflight dining is evolving just as fast as the passengers it serves,” said Robin Padgett, CEO of Catering & Retail at dnata. “Passengers are paying more attention to how meals make them feel during a journey, and wellness is becoming part of what a good travel experience looks like.”

Raising the bar on inflight wellbeing

While 46% agree airline food has improved in recent years, 41% believe wellness options still lag behind, highlighting an opportunity for airlines to continue evolving their menus.

With the UK’s functional food market now valued at more than £1.6 billion, consumer expectations are rising beyond taste alone to include nutrition, transparency and provenance.

Airline meals are increasingly being judged through the lens of everyday eating habits. From gut-friendly kombucha to balanced grain bowls and protein snacks, passengers want inflight menus to reflect how they eat in real life.

The future of food in flight

As passenger expectations continue to change, inflight catering is being shaped by a growing focus on balance, freshness and function, alongside the operational demands of serving food at altitude and at scale.

In the UK, dnata Catering & Retail operates at significant scale, serving 22 airline customers and producing around 20.5 million meals annually. The business supports more than 1,000 flights a day, with meals prepared by a team of 225 UK-based chefs working across dnata’s catering facilities nationwide. This footprint places dnata at the centre of evolving inflight food trends, offering a real-time view of how passenger expectations around health and wellness are shaping airline menus.

Drawing on consumer insight and industry experience, dnata Catering & Retail works with airline partners to understand how these preferences are influencing menu development and onboard offerings.

“Our research backs what we’re hearing across the industry,” Padgett added. “Passengers are embracing lighter, fresher, more functional meals, and airlines are increasingly thinking about how inflight food fits into the wider travel experience.”

About the survey

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative respondents. The data was collected between 18.07.2025-21.07.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.

dnata’s teams of award-winning chefs will begin to dish up the most popular global festive meal of traditional roast turkey from mid-December. Some airlines will serve their guests a gentle starter of local prawn cocktail or mixed grain and cranberry salad before progressing to the showstopper. While passengers will consume a total of 6.9 tonnes of meat, a typical meal will include the essential ingredients, including savoury sage and onion stuffing, crispy roast potatoes, and tender Brussels sprouts.  

Global menu variations

Travellers should save some space after their meal, however, with a choice of delightful gastronomical desserts which vary depending on where their journey begins. The traditional mince pie, Christmas cake and festive-themed chocolates are prepared for airlines jetting out of the UK. In Australia, passengers will be greeted with the choice of warm fruit pudding, Christmas pudding cheesecake, or gingerbread-spiced crumble topped mousse.

In the USA, a popular special dessert amongst American airline partners is Pumpkin pie with spiced mascarpone or cream, or Pumpkin cheesecake and stewed apples.

Robin Padgett, Divisional Senior Vice President for Catering and Retail, dnata, explains the process of creating a festive menu: “An airline’s menus are planned out once per year, and many airlines have cyclical menus to reflect the seasonal changes. 

“Festive menus are signed off in November, after they have been developed by our award-winning chefs. Recipes are then created for all our global stations along with loading and plating guides with photographs of each stage, to ensure consistent delivery. 

“We also take the special requirements of our airline partners into consideration, with Halal-prepared meat as well as tasty vegetarian alternatives. Special meals account for 45 per cent of total meals provided for our big airline carriers.”

dnata also provides catering services to airline partners via tailor-made on-board retail offerings. 

“We’ll ensure that passengers of our retail customers also receive the festive experience with turkey, cranberry and stuffing sandwiches and a mince pie to purchase as they make their special journey,” Robin says.

Innovation to reduce waste

While preparing large quantities of festive meals, dnata Catering’s teams collaborate closely with airline partners to examine consumption patterns and utilise predictive analytics to enhance food and beverage loading for in-flight services. This careful analysis not only helps minimise food waste but also reduces the fuel consumption that comes with carrying excess weight. Additionally, whenever possible, dnata Catering aims to source local ingredients to lower the food miles associated with its menus.

“We take great pride in the confidence our global clients have in us to deliver exceptional meals made from locally sourced ingredients for their passengers,” Robin concludes.

dnata’s catering and retail division is one of the world’s leading inflight hospitality providers. In the first six months of the financial year 2024-25, dnata’s customer-oriented teams produced over 50 million meals, serving full service, low-cost and VIP carriers from more than 60 locations.

Alex Doisneau, Managing Director, dnata UK Airport Operations, who accepted the award on behalf of dnata globally, said: “We are incredibly proud to have won this prestigious, global award for the 10th successive year. This recognition reflects our consistent focus on delivering world-class quality and safety, and our ongoing investment in innovation and sustainability. Thank you to our team for their hard work and our customers for their continued trust in our services.” 

Over the past year, dnata continued to invest in the latest technologies to enhance its offering across its global network. It successfully integrated autonomous drones into its operations in the UAE, implemented AI-powered solutions in Singapore and continued to roll out One Cargo, its advanced cargo management system, globally to further enhance its cargo handling operations and capabilities. Meanwhile, construction of dnata Cargo City Amsterdam, one of the world’s largest and most advanced facilities of its kind, continued in The Netherlands.

dnata has also continued efforts to enhance environmental efficiency globally. As a result of its consistent investment in renewable energy, electric equipment and process improvement, the company’s carbon intensity measured in kilograms of CO₂ equivalent emissions per aircraft turnaround reduced by over 8% for its ground handling and cargo businesses in the recently ended financial year*. 

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 2023-24, dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled over 778,000 aircraft turns, moved over 2.9 million tonnes of cargo, uplifted 123 million meals, and recorded a total transaction value (TTV) of travel services of US$ 2.4 billion.

*Financial year 2023-24, ended on 31 March 2024. dnata’s environmental data has been externally verified by Verifavia, an independent accredited environmental verification and auditing body.

This strategic move is projected to reduce the carbon footprint of dnata’s HGV’s fleet by 77%, cutting carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions by over 2,400 tonnes annually. This is comparable to the greenhouse gas emissions from over 530 average petrol-powered passenger vehicles for 12 months.

The initiative is part of the dnata Group’s continued efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 in line with its eight-year strategy.

Alex Doisneau, Managing Director of dnata UK, said: “We are committed to implementing meaningful initiatives to maximise environmental efficiency. The introduction of biofuel, such as HVO, into our UK operations is another important step in our ongoing journey to reduce our carbon footprint.

“We will continue to invest in infrastructure and equipment to contribute to dnata’s global sustainability targets.”

Continued investment in renewable energy

dnata’s most recent initiative follows significant investment in advanced infrastructure in the UK. Its new, advanced cargo centres in Manchester (dnata City North) and London (dnata City East) both incorporate the latest carbon reduction initiatives in design and operation, including the use of solar PV panels, air-source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging.

Reducing emissions with alternative fuel options

Besides the UK, dnata currently utilises biofuel in Australia, The Netherlands and the UAE, while continually exploring opportunities to introduce it in further countries across its network. In the UAE, it has recently transitioned its entire non-electric fleet to biodiesel at the two Dubai airports, Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum - Dubai World Central (DWC).

In the financial year 2023-24, dnata reduced CO₂e emissions by 2,200 tonnes by using over 1.3 million litres of biofuels globally.

Converting GSE fleet

dnata’s fleet strategy commits to phasing out diesel-operated engines and switching to hybrid, electric, or hydrogen wherever airports have provided the necessary infrastructure. As a result of its investments in recent years, 65% of dnata’s fleet is now electric in the Netherlands, 44% in Italy, 40% in the UK, and 39% in Switzerland.

Significant improvement across key environmental performance metrics 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.

dnata: a leading global air services provider

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 2023-24, dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled over 778,000 aircraft turns, moved over 2.9 million tonnes of cargo, uplifted 123 million meals, and recorded a total transaction value (TTV) of travel services of US$ 2.4 billion.

dnata Representation Services has been selected to provide a comprehensive range of services to the airline as its general sales agent (GSA) in the UAE. The partnership establishes UAE-based infrastructure for local sales, marketing and distribution support, providing a full range of travel services for Virgin customers flying to and from Dubai. dnata’s services will support the airline as it gears up to resume flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Dubai International (DXB) this month.

Flights are now available for customers to book, and will operate from 30 October 2023 through to March 2024 with a four-times weekly seasonal service.

Simon Woodford, Vice President Global Air Services at dnata Travel Group, said: "dnata Representation Services previously served as Virgin Atlantic’s GSA in the UAE, and we are delighted to be working with this dynamic airline as it makes its exciting return to Dubai. Our experienced team will work hard to support Virgin Atlantic in achieving its business objectives and growth plans, as the UAE continues to prove a top destination of choice for UK travellers."

Liezl Gericke, Head of International at Virgin Atlantic, commented: "We’ve long wanted to return to Dubai when the time was right, and we know our customers will be over the moon with the reintroduction of this popular route. Nothing sets our hearts soaring like a new destination or reintroducing an old favourite. We look forward to welcoming our customers back on board, whether travelling for business or leisure or heading back to the United Kingdom to reconnect with friends and family."

The new service is set to offer seamless connections and consistent long-haul onboard experiences for customers connecting from Dubai via London Heathrow to destinations throughout North America across both the Virgin Atlantic and Delta networks, including New York, Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

The new route will be served by the airline’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft boasting 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium and 192 Economy Delight, Classic and Light seats, with return Economy Class fares starting from AED 2,050 per person.

Find out more about dnata Representation Services at www.dnata.com/travel; and explore more on Virgin Atlantic and latest available flights from London to the UAE and beyond, at www.virginatlantic.com.

In her role, Lynn will head dnata’s catering and retail operations at 18 airports across the UK. Under Lynn’s leadership, dnata will continue to deliver world-class culinary services and innovative products that enhance passenger experience and contribute to customers’ business objectives. dnata currently provides quality catering and retail services to 38 airlines with a team of over 3,000 dedicated professionals in the UK.

With significant experience in previous executive roles, including Head of British Airways Global Catering and Director of Worldwide Operations for IAG Cargo, Lynn has delivered large scale change in a wide range of positions within both the transport and food industries. Lynn will begin her role with immediate effect.

Robin Padgett, Chief Executive Officer of dnata Catering and Retail, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Lynn with dnata Catering UK. Lynn brings a wealth of international experience and has a demonstrable track record in building high performing businesses and teams, driving operational excellence, understanding our customer’s needs, as well as financial and change management.

“With her broad expertise and passion for culinary excellence,  Lynn is well-positioned to lead our dedicated team and help dnata’s customers deliver on changing traveller expectations and needs.”

dnata’s flight catering operation uplifted 50.5 million meals in the period April to September 2022, a sharp increase of 204% compared to 16.6 million meals in the equivalent period in 2021.

As one of the world’s largest air and travel services providers dnata offers ground handling, cargo, travel and catering & retail services at over 130 airports in more than 30 countries across six continents.

From mid-December to Boxing Day, the most popular meal for dnata’s global airline partners of a traditional roast turkey dinner will be served. Included will be the important ingredients of such a culturally important meal: turkey, sage and onion stuffing, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, finished with Christmas cake and mince pies. The most popular customer additions will be cranberry sauce and bread sauce.

Robin Padgett, Divisional Senior Vice President for Catering and Retail, dnata, explains the process of creating a festive menu: “An airline’s menus are planned out once per year, and many airlines have four annual menus to reflect the seasonal changes.

“Festive menus are signed off in November, after they have been developed by our award-winning chefs. Recipes are then created for all our global stations along with loading and plating guides with photographs of each stage, so that the process is fool proof.

“We also take the special requirements of our airline partners into consideration, with Halal-prepared meat as well as tasty vegetarian alternatives. Special meals account for 45 per cent of total meals provided for our big airline carriers.”

dnata also provides catering services to airline partners via tailor-made on-board retail offerings. “We’ll ensure that passengers of our retail customers also receive the festive experience with turkey, cranberry and stuffing sandwiches and a mince pie to purchase as they make their special journey,” Robin says.

While producing such vast quantities of festive meals, dnata’s catering teams work closely with airline customers to analyse consumption trends and use predictive data to optimise the loading of F&B for in-flight catering. Analysis of on-board data not only reduces food waste but also fuel burn associated with carrying excess weight. In addition, where possible dnata Catering sources and supplies local produce to reduce the food miles associated with menus.

“We are proud that our global customers trust us to provide them and their passengers with the highest quality meals and locally sourced ingredients,” Robin concludes.

Global standards, local menus

In the UK, dnata Catering’s traditional roast turkey dinner will be served approximately 8,000 times per day. In addition, 10,000 tray set items including mince pies and festive-themed chocolates and beverages will be distributed.

In the USA, a similar main turkey meal is served. But rather than a mince pie, a popular dessert amongst American airline partners is Pumpkin pie with spiced mascarpone or cream, or Pumpkin cheesecake and stewed apples. This year, airlines have requested additional sweet treats. They include a Yule log and stuffed profiteroles, a gingerbread cookie and a salted chocolate truffle.

While 75,000 traditional roast turkey meals will be served in Australia for international customers, consuming 1.9 tonnes of meat, some airlines will begin with either a local starter of prawn cocktail or mixed grain and cranberry salad. Dessert will be a choice between warm fruit pudding, Christmas pudding cheesecake, or gingerbread-spiced crumble topped mousse.

dnata’s catering and retail division is one of the world’s leading inflight hospitality providers. In the first six months of the financial year 2022-23, dnata’s customer-oriented teams produced over 50 million meals, serving full service, low-cost and VIP carriers from more than 60 locations.

The partnership will see dnata deliver a tailor-made on-board retail programme and innovative solutions for the airline, supporting it to further enhance its retail range onboard and customer satisfaction. 

The agreement will see dnata provide easyJet with a comprehensive suite of services covering retail strategy; product development and selection across food, beverage and duty-free; procurement; marketing; cabin crew engagement and financial management. dnata will work closely with easyJet and leading technology providers to deliver a modern, technology-led programme, with the airline’s customers front and centre.

dnata has also been appointed to provide end-to-end logistics and last-mile services to easyJet across the UK and Italy, covering 11 stations.

Robin Padgett, Divisional Senior Vice President for Catering and Retail, dnata, said: “We’re immensely proud to become the inflight retail partner of choice for easyJet across its European network. We will work closely with the airline’s teams to bring a modern, digital-led retail experience to easyJet’s customers, putting products people love on-board and delivering value for passengers and the company.

“We know easyJet is a leader in its segment and we’re excited to lift the success of their retail programme even further, leveraging our experience and insights across inflight and on-ground retailing, gathered across our global markets.”

Simon Cox, Director of In Flight Retail for easyJet commented: “We are delighted to be working with dnata on an opportunity to transform our inflight retail service and we are confident they are the right partners to support us in realising our ambitions to deliver an industry-leading, innovative onboard retail experience for our customers across Europe.”

dnata launched its dedicated inflight retail hub in 2020. Headquartered in the UK, the specialist retail unit provides airline customers with a comprehensive suite of ‘off-the-shelf’ services from product development, digitalised sales channels and technological solutions through to cabin crew engagement, product design and accounting. dnata’s existing inflight retail customer-base spans leading airlines from all over the world. 

dnata also has En Route International in its stable of brands. En Route International is an award-winning product development, creative design and supply-chain operation, providing bespoke and high-street retail food product solutions to airlines across the globe.

dnata’s catering and retail division is one of the world’s leading inflight hospitality providers. Before the pandemic, the company’s 12,000 dedicated employees produced some 90 million meals annually, serving full service, low-cost and VIP carriers from more than 60 locations.

About dnata

dnata is one of the world’s largest air and travel services providers. Established in 1959, the company ensures the aviation industry operates smoothly and efficiently at over 120  airports. Offering ground handling, cargo, travel, flight catering and retail services in 36 countries across six continents, dnata is a trusted partner for over 300 airline customers around the world. In the financial year 2020-21, dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled 280,000 aircraft turns, moved 2.6 million tonnes of cargo, uplifted 16 million meals, and recorded a total transaction value (TTV) of travel services of US$ 62 million.

About easyJet

easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service.

easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline and carried more than 96 million passengers in 2019 – more than 16 million travelling for business. The airline has over 300 aircraft on nearly 1000 routes to more than 150 airports across 35 countries. Over 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in eight countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports several local charities and has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £14m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

The airline takes sustainability seriously and is committed to reaching net-zero emissions flying by 2050. Together with its partners Airbus and Wright Electric, easyJet is working to accelerate the development of zero-emission aircraft technology. In the meantime, the airline is offsetting the carbon emissions from the fuel used for all its flights, at no additional cost to its customers, and only supports projects that are certified by Gold Standard or the Verified Carbon Standard, internationally recognised certification schemes. In addition, easyJet continues to renew its fleet, operate efficiently, and aims to fill most of its seats. Through these activities, the airline has cut its carbon emissions per passenger kilometre efficiency by a third since 2000 and is committed to reducing this further.

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – since launching over 25 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for its passengers.

The airline was named as Britain’s Most Admired Company of 2020 in the transport sector, retaining the leading position for a second year running. Britain's Most Admired Companies study is the longest-running annual survey of corporate reputation in the UK.

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.

Ailsa will assume responsibility for all of dnata Travel Group’s UK-based brands (Gold Medal, Travel Republic, Travelbag, Netflights and Sunmaster) as the head of a leadership team and workforce numbering nearly 800 people.

As a key member of the leadership team for dnata Travel Group, part of the Emirates Group, during the last 12 years, she’s held a variety of senior roles. These include, Vice President - Business Development and Strategy, heading the team that oversaw the acquisition of and holding board positions on many of the businesses that now form the Group’s UK portfolio; and four years as Senior Vice President - Emirates Holidays, in which she oversaw the brand’s global operations across 36 markets. Most recently, as Senior Vice President - Transformation (Global) & Consumer Businesses (ME&I), she had responsibility for the dnata Travel consumer travel brand in the UAE, and overseeing a complete strategic review and transformation of dnata Travel Group’s global portfolio of brands through COVID, driving operational efficiencies and strategic clarity to support the delivery of its post-pandemic vision of ‘reconnecting a better world’.

Commenting on her appointment, John Bevan, dnata’s Divisional Senior Vice President for Travel, said: “We’re delighted that another part of the dnata Travel family will now be able to benefit from Ailsa’s expertise and leadership. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her for a number of years and know our team in the UK – as well as our valued industry partners – will enjoy working with her and will go on, together, to achieve great things.

“These are challenging times for all UK travel businesses, and need clear headedness, agility, honesty and commitment to navigate. Ailsa has all of those qualities, as well as decisive strategic vision, a passion for the customer and operational know-how. Our UK organisation couldn’t be in safer hands.”

Ailsa Pollard said: “I’m looking forward to working with the UK team to emerge stronger from the pandemic. I know how tough the last 18 months have been on our people, our brands, our customers and our partners, but we have very strong foundations and the support of a global business on which we can collectively build an exciting future.”

About dnata Travel Group:
The dnata Travel Group represents the travel division of dnata, one of the world’s largest air and travel services providers. Part of The Emirates Group, the group’s history is rooted in Dubai and the growth of its pioneering travel industry, evolving to consist of more than 30 leading international travel brands with coverage across the world. The dnata Travel Group is proud to serve its global customers as a leading, award-winning travel services provider with long-standing travel expertise, a wide range of products and services, and high standards of service and safety across all of its operations. Its global businesses cover all aspects of the travel industry from local travel agencies, to global travel consolidators, corporate travel, sports travel, destination management and attractions, airline representation services, and more.

Particularly well-situated for ease of airfield access, dnata’s purpose-built on-airport facility includes 125,000 sq ft² warehouse space and is capable of processing in excess of 150,000 tons of cargo annually. It is equipped with the latest technologies and complies with the highest industry standards ensuring efficient and safe handling of all types of cargo, including pharmaceuticals, perishables, dangerous goods, aircraft engines and vehicles.

Alex Doisneau, Managing Director of dnata UK, said: ”We are thrilled to announce the opening of another world-class cargo facility in a strategic location in the UK. Our new, purpose-built facility in Manchester complements our existing multiple UK operations including the dnata City complex at London Heathrow, enabling customers to enhance their operations in the region.

“Our continued investment and expansion in the UK underlines our commitment to our customers and the local cargo industry at a critical time, providing operational excellence at key gateways across the country.”

Gareth Jackson, MAG Group Property Director, said: “It’s great to see dnata open its superb new cargo complex here at Manchester Airport.

“The new facility will further enhance the role we play in ensuring freight is seamlessly transported into and out of the North region markets from all parts of the world. Not only will the centre help the North’s trade credentials, it will boost employment opportunities for communities in Greater Manchester too.

“We look forward to working closely with dnata as it continues to grow from Manchester Airport.”

dnata City North contains a pharma and perishables centre offering customers a safe and reliable cold chain solution for the handling of temperature sensitive goods, including the COVID-19 vaccine. The facility was designed with flexibility and unique product handling requirements in mind, taking advantage of the latest technologies. The cold storage areas in the centre are modular, enabling teams to manage changing handling demands with dedicated climate control capability. Web-based monitoring systems are also in place to facilitate real-time management of all areas.

dnata City North also includes 25,000 sq ft² flexible office accommodation providing an innovative mixture of workspace and meeting facilities, as well as breakout spaces.

In recent years, dnata has significantly invested in advanced infrastructure, equipment and cutting-edge technologies, cementing its position as a leading air cargo services provider in the UK. The company’s recent investments include the opening of dnata City East, a new bespoke export facility at London Heathrow (LHR) that significantly increased the cargo capacity at the UK’s busiest airport. Operating 14 facilities at 6 airports, dnata is now able to handle more than 850,000 tons of cargo annually across the country.

A global air services provider and the trusted partner of over 300 airline customers, dnata offers ground handling, cargo and catering services at 126 airports in 19 countries. In the financial year 2019-20 dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled 681,000 aircraft, moved 2.9 million tons of cargo, and uplifted more than 93 million meals.

The new specialist retail unit will deliver tailor-made on-board retail programmes and innovative solutions for airline customers, supporting them to maximise on-board ancillary revenue and enhance passenger satisfaction. The addition of a retail-focused unit to its organisation cements dnata’s credentials as a truly end-to-end inflight and airport service provider.

The move will align global technology, innovation, strategy and planning, supporting dnata’s existing retail programmes and ensuring world-class delivery. dnata will provide airline customers with a comprehensive suite of ‘off-the-shelf’ services from product development, digitalised sales channels and technological solutions through to cabin crew engagement, product design and accounting. dnata has built a flexible engagement approach, with an end-to-end fully outsourced retail programme as its flagship product. A suite of additional managed services options can be delivered as required.

dnata’s dedicated retail function has been established with a team of experienced inflight retail experts from across the company’s markets, with the backing of world-leading product, systems and services solutions. Headquartered in London, it will be led by Alan Hayes, who currently leads retail for dnata’s UK catering operation and has managed retail programmes for more than 15 years for some of Europe’s largest carriers.

Robin Padgett, Divisional Senior Vice President, dnata catering, said: “By bringing our retail skills and experience into a dedicated global retail unit and structure, we are now better placed to deliver award-winning solutions across our network.

“We have seen significant growth with our core retail customers in recent years, particularly in driving pre-order capability and lifting on-board sales performance through reward, recognition and engagement of cabin-crew. Our dedicated unit will further enhance our ability to provide best-in-class retail programmes and on-board innovation to our customers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has seen airlines rapidly explore additional revenue opportunities. We’re working closely with our airline customers to help them maximise ancillary revenue on-board while improving on-board experience and choice for passengers.”

dnata’s existing inflight retail customer-base spans airlines from all over the world, having launched and now delivering inflight retail for leading airlines in the UK, Europe and Asia Pacific. dnata also has En Route International in its stable of brands. En Route International is an award-winning product development, creative design and supply-chain operation, providing bespoke and high-street retail product solutions to airlines across the globe.

dnata’s retail team is backed by dnata catering, one of the world’s leading inflight hospitality providers. In 2019, the company’s 12,000 dedicated employees produced over 110 million meals, serving full service, low-cost and VIP carriers from more than 60 locations.

Cooperating closely with government authorities, customers and suppliers, the company’s dedicated teams have worked around the clock to make a difference by ensuring smooth and safe turnaround of repatriation flights, handling essential cargo, supporting industries facing a labour shortage, launching innovative new products and services as well as donating high-nutrition meals to organisations and individuals in need.

Gary Chapman, President of dnata, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to the travel and aviation industries. dnata is not immune. Like our customers and competitors, we are also facing serious challenges and working hard to recalibrate our business and operations for what, right now, is an uncertain future. Despite this extraordinary operating environment, we must stay focussed on delivering the promises we made and continually creating value for our customers and the communities around us.

“Over the past few months, we have adapted our operations and processes to the new normal, enhanced our existing services, and launched new ones to meet changing demand. This has all been achieved thanks to the team of talented colleagues across our businesses, who live and breathe dnata’s promise to deliver quality and safe services for our customers and their customers.”

Although flights have been dramatically reduced globally, dnata’s ground and passenger handling teams have continued to help airline partners deliver on special missions across the globe. From London to Manila and Dubai, the company’s dedicated employees have helped thousands of families reunite by handling more than 2,600 repatriation flights between March-July. With health and safety being dnata’s number one priority, all employees have been thoroughly trained on updated protocols, including the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the application of social distancing across airport operations.

dnata has also continued to support airlines in maintaining global trade and the flow of essential goods by delivering best-in-class cargo services. dnata’s teams have handled over 67,000 tonnes of PPE, life-saving medical supplies and pharmaceuticals over the past four months. At each of its 46 cargo stations, dnata has been using the latest technology, best practices and certified warehouses to ensure that every pharma and vaccine shipment is handled in compliance with the highest international standards.

In response to the strong air cargo market demand for the rapid, reliable and efficient transportation of essential commodities, several airlines have introduced additional cargo capacity by using passenger aircraft with seats fully or partially removed from the cabin. To adapt to changing customer needs, dnata has enhanced services, improved processes and trained employees to safely and efficiently handle passenger planes carrying cargo only. In Australia, Pakistan and the UK, dnata’s professionally trained staff achieved remarkable milestones by loading record amounts of up to 71 tonnes of cargo onto airline customers’ passenger aircraft.

dnata has also enhanced its aircraft cabin cleaning services to ensure the highest possible level of safety on board its customers’ flights. The new process involves extensive cleaning with a stronger disinfectant, and includes a comprehensive wipedown of all surfaces – from windows, tray tables, seatback screens, armrests, seats, in-seat controls, panels, air vents and overhead lockers in the cabin to lavatories, galleys and crew rest areas. The on-board cleaning chemicals are approved by the relevant authorities and proven to kill viruses and germs. They leave a long-lasting protective coating against new contamination of viruses, bacteria and fungi on surfaces, and are eco-friendly. A dedicated quality team and shift managers oversee the cleaning on the majority of flights.

In addition, dnata has launched innovative new products and services across its global operations to help airlines and passengers navigate the new normal. The company has added thermal screening, baggage disinfection and even home COVID-testing services to its offering at various locations around the world.

Operating over 60 state-of-the-art facilities, dnata has significant capacity to provide safe, quality catering services to industries in need. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, dnata’s catering team has adapted its catering products and services in line with demand, and increased its capability to serve health and aged-care industries to support relief efforts alongside local authorities. In several countries, dnata delivers meals for quarantine facilities, looking after those who have to compulsorily isolate.

dnata’s skilled workforce has also taken on new roles to support communities. In Singapore and Australia the company has partnered with authorities and companies to temporarily redeploy employees to organisations in industries facing a labour shortage. To date, over 400 dnata employees have been trained and started working in other organisations.

dnata has remained committed to giving back to communities globally. The company teamed up with authorities, organisations and partners to provide ingredients, meals and packaged goods to local communities in need. To date, more than 200,000 wholesome meals have been donated to various organisations in Australia, Ireland, Italy and the UK to enable them to support those who need it the most.

Alpha LSG was formed in 2012 by the dnata-owned Alpha Flight Group and LSG Sky Chefs; each holding a 50% share of the business. The agreed share purchase has the full support of the LSG Group and Alpha LSG operations will continue as usual.

Since its formation, Alpha LSG has grown into a competitive, industry-leading business. It has revenue of over £290 million and employs 3,500 people across 15 airport catering facilities and two central production facilities in the UK. Each year it produces over 30 million meals, serving more than 160 thousand aircraft belonging to its 80 customers.

Robin Padgett, Divisional Senior Vice President, dnata, said: “Alongside the LSG Group, we have built a high-performing business in the UK and have helped our airline customers deliver innovative, world-class solutions for their customers.

“We appreciate the strong partner we have had in LSG over the past seven years and are excited to build on our success and bring Alpha LSG’s employees into the dnata family.”

The proposed purchase of Alpha LSG follows dnata’s increased investment in its catering portfolio this year, having opened new facilities in Houston, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver. dnata’s rapidly expanding catering division now boasts over 10,000 employees who are focused on providing quality catering, inflight retail and F&B solutions across the globe.

Jochen Müller, Chief Operations Officer, LSG Group said: “We would like to thank Alpha LSG employees for their dedicated service over the years, as well as our JV partner, dnata, for the trusting and collaborative partnership in the highly competitive UK market.

“This move will help to secure the continued growth of Alpha LSG and we look forward to a smooth transition while we continue our world-leading day-to-day operations.”

Alex Forbes, Chief Executive Officer, Alpha LSG added: “We look forward to the next phase of our journey as part of the global dnata network.”

About dnata

dnata is one of the world’s largest air services providers. Established in 1959, the company ensures the aviation industry operates smoothly and efficiently in 127 airports. Offering ground handling, cargo, travel, and flight catering services in 35 countries across six continents, dnata is a trusted partner for over 300 airline customers around the world. Each day, the company handles over 1,900 flights, moves over 8,500 tons of cargo, books over 16,000 hotel stays, and uplifts over 320,000 meals.

About Alpha LSG

Alpha LSG is the leading provider of inflight services to the world’s airline customers. It offers a comprehensive range of inflight catering, onboard retail and logistics services across all of the UK’s major and regional airports.

Dubai, U.A.E., 28 November 2018 – dnata, one of the world’s largest air services providers, announced that it acquired a majority stake in bd4travel (Big Data for Travel), an award-winning tech company, which provides artificial intelligence(AI)-driven IT solutions to online travel agencies.

Based in Germany and the UK, bd4travel’s services were designed specifically to meet the challenges of the travel industry. The company’s sophisticated algorithms allow online travel agencies to engage with anonymous customers and personalise their shopping experience in real-time, recommending the most relevant products, services and content to them.

Running more than 40 separate sites, bd4travel currently serves leading travel organisations in 17 markets. The company’s innovative solutions have been recognised with several prestigious industry awards.

Operating a diverse portfolio of travel businesses, dnata offers comprehensive travel services for individuals, companies and the travel trade across 77 countries. The company and its partners manage a broad range of activities from business and incentive travel to worldwide tour operations, including destination management, leisure, sports and active holidays. dnata also offers sales and marketing services for hotels, along with specialist travel services for government, offshore and marine industries.

Today’s announcement underlines dnata’s commitment to applying state-of-the-art technologies to improve efficiency and customer experience. With its investment in bd4travel, dnata further enhances its operations and offering bringing significant benefits to its stakeholders in the travel industry. 

bd4travel will continue to develop its award-winning platform to create more value for its customers, while broadening its reach across the globe with dnata.

The acquisition is effective immediately, with no interruption to the services offered by bd4travel. The business will continue under the bd4travel branding.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the details of the acquisition.

“At dnata we are constantly looking for ways to embrace innovation and new technology to maximise efficiency and ensure service excellence,” said Iain Andrew, Divisional Senior Vice President, Travel Services, dnata. “The processing of big data and the application of artificial intelligence-driven digital customer interactions represent major competencies of future-proof organisations. With their outstanding, scalable technology, expert team and proven business model, bd4travel offers solutions for both. Our investment in bd4travel will help us further optimise our processes and, by taking a world-class technology to a global level, deliver more value to the travel industry.”

Andy Owen Jones, Founder of bd4travel, said: “This majority acquisition by dnata is a major milestone for bd4travel, which will enable us to grow our AI-led solutions and bring this technology to more customers especially within the airline world. We are excited by the prospects of working with dnata, with their international reach and their commitment to investing in the best technologies in the travel industry. This is the start of a powerful collaboration.”

--ENDS

About dnata

dnata is one of the world’s largest air services providers. Established in 1959, the company ensures the aviation industry operates smoothly and efficiently in 127 airports. Offering ground handling, cargo, travel, and flight catering services in 85 countries across six continents, dnata is a trusted partner for over 300 airline customers around the world. Each day, the company handles over 1,800 flights, carries over 8,400 tonnes of cargo, assists over 320,000 passengers, books over 21,000 hotel stays, and uplifts over 320,000 meals.

About bd4travel

bd4travel delivers intelligent personalisation for travel, providing digital empathy and personal engagement with anonymous customers. The company was founded in 2013 by three former Amadeus colleagues who realised that “personal relevance” has the potential to change the travel industry – and that AI-driven personalisation is the necessary solution to provide the best web experience for each and every individual user. Today, bd4travel provides a comprehensive solution tailored specifically to tackle the challenges of the travel domain, to listen to its users, understand them and react with the most relevant service. Travel organisations profit from ready-to-go personalisation modules as well as powerful tools to create individual use-cases to enhance the user experience. bd4travel is based in Germany and the UK. Its solutions are implemented at leading travel organisations in 17 international markets and are recognised with awards from leading travel organisations such as Phocuswright, Travolution and Travel Technology Europe.

dnata began its ISAGO certification journey in 2008. The process to be successfully registered is a rigorous one, requiring compliance with the ISAGO Standards and Recommended Practices at both the corporate and station levels. The standards cover Organization and Management Systems, Load Control, Passenger Handling, Aircraft Handling and Loading, Aircraft Ground Movement and Cargo and Mail Handling. An audit is then conducted by an airline member drawn from the ISAGO Audit Pool and registration is granted if the audit is successful.

 “Safety has always been a guiding principle at dnata and is at the heart of everything we do. This certification is a validation of our unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our staff. Investing the time and effort in ensuring compliance with ISAGO standards reflect our diligence to continuous improvement in safety standards. It also highlights our goal to operate within globally recognised industry best practices,” said Gary Morgan, CEO dnata UK.

For the latest certification, the ISAGO auditing team from British Airways, assessed dnata’s LHR station in the categories of Organisation and Management, Load Control, Passenger and baggage handling, Aircraft handling and loading, Aircraft Ground Movement and Cargo and mail handling, for both documentation and implementation.

Moving forward in the ISAGO programme for dnata UK, London Gatwick and Manchester stations will be audited later this year.  

The move is designed to provide easier single drop-off and collection points for customers of both airlines and will deliver longerterm benefits such as faster truck turnaround times at London Heathrow and enhanced services for premium products. 

For Virgin Atlantic, the new contract with dnata is a further extension of one of the longest-running cargo handling agreements in the UK, which first began in the late 1980s. The airline is dnata’s largest cargo customer in the UK, moving more than 200,000 tonnes of cargo per annum, and it has handling contracts with dnata in Dubai and Australia. In 2015, Virgin also awarded the majority of its UK domestic UK trucking business to dnata. 

John Lloyd, Senior Vice President Cargo, Virgin Atlantic, said: “Our working relationship with dnata in London has such longevity because they not only consistently meet our stringent service level agreement but they also work with us to find other ways to deliver service improvements and efficiencies to our customers. Our ‘door waiting’ times at Heathrow, for example, are already among the best at the airport but with the new technology being developed, dnata is confident they can be reduced even further. That’s the attitude we want our partners to take to share our passion for customer service.” 

Commenting on the new agreement Gareth Joyce, President - Delta Cargo, added: “Co-locating our cargo operations at Heathrow and across the UK under ‘one roof’ in partnership with dnata will help realise greater synergies, while delivering a more seamless and efficient service to our customers. With an extensive network between the UK and North America, plus hundreds of same-day, wide-body connections via Delta’s hubs, we offer a competitive and comprehensive range of cargo services that will continue to evolve thanks to our partnership with dnata.” 

Delta Cargo will join Virgin Atlantic in their dedicated 200,000 square foot Cargo Point facility, adjacent to London Heathrow’s World Cargocentre. In support of the new contracts, dnata is making a multi-million pound phased investment which will include advanced control point technologies to further improve handling times for customers’ trucks when delivering and collecting cargo. The new system, which uses geo-fencing and advance information on drivers and their vehicles, will make customer interaction with Virgin and Delta’s Heathrow cargo operations faster and more seamless. The new technology is currently being trialled by dnata ahead of its planned roll-out in Q1 2017. dnata will also work proactively with both airlines to support the continued growth of their existing products for perishable, temperature-controlled, pharmaceutical and high value cargoes. 

Gary Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of dnata said: “We are thrilled to have renewed our contract with Virgin Atlantic Cargo and we appreciate being recognised for the high quality of service we have provided to Virgin Atlantic Cargo and their customers. It is especially gratifying to extend the partnership to Delta Air Lines and to welcome them into the dnata family. Our commitment and investment into the UK market has been unprecedented, and the benefit of working alongside like-minded carriers brings an opportunity to further invest in people, the latest equipment, high specification facilities and cutting edge technologies.” 

Since the start of their joint venture in 2014, Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo have also co-located cargo handling at eight gateways in North America: Atlanta, Boston, Las Vegas, Miami, New York (JFK and EWR), Orlando and Washington Dulles

From 1 May, dnata will provide Norwegian with a full range of cargo handling capabilities at all UK airports served by Norwegian - Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.dnata will also manage Norwegian’s regional handling and trucking requirements throughout the UK as the airline expandsits UK air and road network. 

Norwegian Cargo’s UK network continues to soar as the airline has introduced five new short-haul routes from Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh and two new long-haul routes from Gatwick to Boston and Oakland-San Francisco this year. The airline recently introduced its first of 31 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners into its long-haul fleet each capable of providing up to 20 tonnes of widebody capacity. 

Bjørn Erik Barman-Jenssen, Head of Norwegian Cargo said: “We believe dnata has the experience and expertise to meet our high standards in service delivery. Norwegian Cargo is continuing to grow as we add more capacity on brand new state-of-the-aircraft flying from the UK to more than 40 destinations. With seven new routes taking off from the UK this year it’s ever more important to utilise our growing capacity, and ensure Norwegian Cargo’s increasing shipments are handled with speed and care in mind. We look forward to starting a brand new relationship with a trusted partner that will be mutually beneficial for Norwegian Cargo, dnata and our customers.” 

Mohammed Akhlaq, Senior Vice President - Business Development at dnata said:“We are delighted to be partnering Norwegian Cargo, and supporting their fast growing network and services at key UK gateways. dnata’s proven service levels and investment in facilities, process innovation, technology and people across the UK network places us in a strong position to serve Norwegian’s needs, and we will work hard to deliver Norwegian Cargo’s customer promise.” 

Norwegian recently commenced four weekly direct flights from Gatwick to Boston and will launch new three weekly flights from Gatwick to Oakland-San Francisco from 12 May, with both routes available for freight services. 

Norwegian Cargo offers freight capacity to all destinations in Scandinavia and a range of European destinations in addition to Bangkok, New York, Orlando, Oakland, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale. Customers can book via Norwegian’s GSA at www.norwegiancargo.com 

The nomination and voting process allowed more than 15,000 readers of Asia Cargo News and e-news subscribers to first determine the leading companies in the market, and then determine the winners, making the results the opinion of service users rather than a panel of judges.

Imagine Cruising is a leader in cruise and stay holiday distribution out of the UK. The company will become part of the dnata Travel family of businesses, which includes Stella Travel Services, Gold Medal Group, Travel Republic, and additional investments in Hogg Robinson Group, and Mindpearl Group.

"Our growth strategy is clear: invest in opportunities that enhance our product offering and strengthen our position as a global leader,” said Iain Andrew, Divisional Senior Vice President of dnata’s travel business. “Imagine Cruising is a company with a strong track record and valuable expertise in the growing cruise sector. We know our businesses around the world will reap benefits from their knowledge and partnerships.”

Based in Swindon, UK, with offices also in Cape Town, South Africa, Imagine Cruising provides passengers with a range of cruise options around the world.

“dnata is a growing, international company with the experience and expertise needed to support our sustained growth,” said Robin Deller, Managing Director, Imagine Cruising. “Our expertise in cruise, combined with dnata’s range of companies adds value to our partners and provides our customers with more options than ever before.”

The acquisition is effective from 20th May 2015, with no interruption to the services offered by Imagine Cruising. The business will continue under the Imagine Cruising branding.

Imagine Cruising is one of the UK’s leading cruise and stay holiday distributors with expertise in both the tour operating and retailing of cruise, working with all the leading UK and international cruise lines.

"Imagine Cruising is a key distributor of cruise products around the world. The addition of the company to the dnata portfolio adds expertise in the growing cruise sector, strengthening our position as an international leader in travel services,” said Iain Andrew, Divisional Senior Vice President of dnata’s travel business.

“The partnership between Imagine Cruising and dnata will support the development of both businesses,” said Robin Deller, Managing Director, Imagine Cruising. “dnata’s recent international growth highlights its commitment to the travel industry around the world. Each business and its customers will benefit from enhanced products and services, and the expertise each organization brings.”

Based in Swindon, UK, with offices also in Cape Town, South Africa, Imagine Cruising provides passengers with a range of cruise options around the world. Globally, the cruise sector is one of the fastest growing within the travel industry. This year, more than 23 million travellers worldwide will choose cruising.

“Imagine Cruising brings a deep understanding of a key travel market, one which will enhance the product offering of each company within the dnata family,” added Iain. “Imagine will lead the strategic development of cruise across dnata travel brands offering customers of Travel Republic, Gold Medal Travel Group and Stella Travel Services an enhanced choice of unique cruise holidays.”

Completion of the acquisition remains subject to merger control clearance in South Africa. dnata and Imagine Cruising will continue to operate independently pending completion.

The company’s ground handling operations at the airport commenced earlier this week with Emirates’ three daily flights, and, in December, dnata will add Cathay Pacific’s four weekly flights from Hong Kong. To ensure the smooth handling of each flight, dnata hired 110 new employees from the area to support dispatch, along with ramp and passenger services. This more than doubles the company’s employee strength at the airport.

“The UK’s regional hubs are vital connectors of people and cargo,” said Gary Morgan, CEO of dnata’s UK operations. “We had already moved to a larger refurbished cargo handling facility at Manchester Airport earlier this year, and the addition of ground handling services is a vote of confidence in dnata’s services and safety record.”

Each year, Manchester Airport welcomes over 21 million passengers. dnata has invested close to GBP 2 million in facilities, technology, and equipment to deliver ground handling services at the airport. The company will use a large range of ground support equipment to handle passengers and baggage for its airline customers.

“We welcome dnata’s investment into their operation at Manchester and are confident they will continue to grow their services, as we also continue to add passenger numbers and more routes at the airport,” said Andrew Cowan, Chief Operating Officer for Manchester Airports Group (MAG) . We want to ensure we have the best performance on the airfield so that airlines are able to provide the best standards to their passengers and dnata will be an important part of that overall process.”

This year, dnata has expanded its UK presence to include seven of the region’s busiest airports. The company currently provides ground and cargo handling services at London Heathrow, and cargo handling at Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, East Midlands, Newcastle, and Gatwick airports. dnata currently employs 2,400 people across the region, handling over 25,000 aircraft turns a year, and over 600,000 tonnes of cargo.

The purchase includes Stella Travel Services’ five brands: TravelBag, Travel2, Sunmaster, Global Travel Group and Triton Rooms. The five brands will become part of the dnata Travel portfolio, which includes Gold Medal Travel Group, and Travel Republic, and additional investments in Hogg Robinson Group, and Mindpearl Group. 

"As dnata’s travel business continues to grow, we look for opportunities to build our expertise, and strengthen our offering to customers, and Stella Travel Services does both,” said Iain Andrew, Divisional Senior Vice President of dnata’s travel business. “Stella, and its leadership team, have a deep understanding of the local market and will support the continued growth of the long-haul travel out of the UK.”

Based in Chester, UK, Stella Travel Services and its brands cover key segments of the UK-travel market with its retail, franchise, wholesale, online and call centre capabilities. Last year, the UAE was the company’s most popular selling destination. The partnership with dnata—and Stella’s experience driving business and leisure travel to the UAE—will boost the tourism industry in the region, and improve dnata’s total purchasing power.

“Though dnata has grown into a global company, our roots are firmly based in Dubai,” added Andrew. “Stella Travel Services is a significant contributor to inbound tourism to the UAE and the partnership between the two companies will help build both Dubai and the region’s reputation as a premier travel destination.”

The acquisition is effective from 14th October 2014, with no interruption to the services offered by Stella Travel Services. The business will continue under the Stella Travel Services branding. 

Stella Travel Services is the trading name for Stella Global UK Limited, STS UK Holdco II Limited and a number of associated subsidiaries.

Stella Travel Services is one of the UK’s leading travel businesses and includes five brands: TravelBag, Travel2, Sunmaster, Global Travel Group and Triton Rooms.

"The addition of Stella Travel Services to the dnata portfolio enhances our offering to customers and the travel trade, strengthening our position as a global company,” said Iain Andrew, Divisional Senior Vice President of dnata’s travel business.

“The partnership between Stella Travel Services and dnata will accelerate the growth of two global brands,” said Andrew Botterill, Chief Executive Officer, Stella Travel Services. “dnata is a growing, diverse group, able to support our long-term ambitions. Destinations in the Middle East and Indian Ocean have driven our strong growth for our company in recent years. dnata's expertise in these regions will help continue this trend for years to come.”

Based in Chester, UK, Stella Travel Services and its brands cover key segments of the UK travel market with its retail, franchise, wholesale, online and call centre capabilities. Last year, the UAE was the company’s most popular selling destination, the partnership with dnata—and its experience in the country—will support continued tourism growth for the region, and improves dnata’s total purchasing power.

“The combined strength of Stella Travel Services, its brands and our group will deliver considerable benefits for our customers and suppliers,” added Iain.

Completion of the acquisition remains subject to merger control clearance. dnata and Stella Travel Services will continue to operate independently pending completion.

Stella Travel Services is the trading name for Stella Global UK Limited, STS UK Holdco II Limited and a number of associated subsidiaries.

The biggest challenge was taking on four new carriers concurrently and combining our teams, as Mike Cathrall, Customer Services Business Manager, explains.  Despite the challenges, dnata achieved an impressive on-time performance of 99 per cent, delivering a consistent service to existing airlines while focusing on new clients.

As well as staffing pressures, the team re-coordinated their ramp handling operations as Steve Szalay, General Manager Ground Services, describes:  “We had known these contracts were coming and we had a major restructure last year to position ourselves into one combined ramp operation, ready to absorb the airlines we won. We assembled four different planning teams to ensure the carriers got the bespoke service they needed.”

Mike adds: “The handling has progressed very well. There have been some learning curves but, in general, all the preparation, hard work and dedication of the London Heathrow team made this a success.”

Much of London Heathrow’s general reshuffling has been triggered by the opening of Terminal 2, which is being staggered between June and September. With such a major change approaching however, all operations across London Heathrow are affected.

Steve points out: “Passenger Services have seen the bulk of their business move to Terminal 4, Operations have moved to Terminal 3 and Ramp Services are consolidating a new home in Terminal 3. We are also looking forward to moving our Virgin Little Red service into Terminal 2 by September 2014.

So what’s next for our passenger services team?  “The next challenge is to break down barriers between departments and make our staff more interchangeable and multi-skilled which will make for a more efficient operation and bring variety and an increased skill level to our staff.”

DUBAI, U.A.E., & London, UK 13^th May 2014: dnata continues to develop cargo infrastructure at its newest locations, having invested more than £8 million throughout the United Kingdom. Recognising the need for enhanced services at Glasgow, Birmingham, East Midlands, Newcastle and Gatwick airports, and moving Manchester warehouse space to larger, refurbished facilities, dnata has improved the flow of air cargo in the UK.

Beyond the physical space, dnata has modernised each facility through technology. From handheld devices for workflow management and barcoding to latest access control system technology, dnata has translated the success of its Heathrow hub – dnata City – to its newest locations.

“With an overwhelmingly positive response from our customers at dnata City, we’re confident mirroring the same level of service at other airports will benefit our clients and the industry at large,” said Gary Morgan, CEO of dnata’s UK operations.

Over the past four years, dnata has built its reputation as a leader in the UK air cargo industry. With the expansion of warehouse facilities at each location, dnata is now able to handle more than 250,000 tonnes of cargo across the country. The company has hired 120 full-time employees to ensure imports and exports transition smoothly from airport to airport. To support the network, dnata has established a new regional logistics centre, operating road feeder services linking the airports.

“Expanded warehouse facilities at Glasgow, Birmingham, East Midlands, Newcastle and Gatwick and new facilities at Manchester translates into job creation, increased capacity and more goods coming in and out of the country—a good thing for the industry and the economy,” added Morgan.

DUBAI, UAE and LONDON, UK – 19 February 2014 – dnata and Qantas Freight announced today a partnership that will see dnata’s UK business provide the Australian carrier freight ground handling at London’s Heathrow airport. Under the agreement, Qantas Freight will relocate its UK office and all operations to dnata City—a purpose-built cargo logistics centre at the heart of the UK’s largest airport.

The long-term partnership agreement will see dnata manage all aspects of freight handling for Qantas, which flies twice-daily A380 operations to Heathrow.

“Our team at dnata City will handle all cargo requirements for Qantas Freight. Ensuring the smooth flow of freight in and out of Heathrow,” said Mohammed Akhlaq, Business Development Director, Cargo, for dnata’s business in the UK. “We are delighted that Qantas has made the commitment to join this development and our team looks forward to providing Qantas Freight’s customers a unique cargo handling experience at Heathrow.”

dnata City’s cargo capacity at Heathrow will improve the flow of goods in and out of the region. With additional cargo points recently added at London Gatwick, Birmingham, East Midlands, Newcastle and Glasgow Airports, dnata supports the smooth transition of freight throughout the UK.

“Qantas Freight strives to be known for excellence in air freight services, and we are confident that dnata City’s world leading facility and service commitment will help us deliver on this vision,” said Mitch Wild, Head of Sales and Service, Qantas Freight.

“Our customers will enjoy access to the latest cargo handling technologies, and we also recognise the modern, purpose built facilities are designed with the latest regulations in mind. This will result in a more efficient and streamlined export lodgement and import collection process, offering faster processing for our customers.”

In total, the dnata City project comprises a 20-acre cargo complex centred around five air freight warehouses, a transportation facility and yard for airside operations enclosed in a security-fenced area. Three brand new facilities at dnata City will provide 206,000 square feet of new cargo space. The new, state-of-the-art buildings will consist of a 78,000 square foot cargo warehouse with 15,000 sq ft of office space; a 54,000 sq ft facility with 11,000 sq ft of offices and a 40,000 sq ft building with 8,000 sq ft of office space. The new facilities will also feature fully automated cargo handling systems, a dedicated AVI handling room as well as chiller rooms and valuable handling facilities. All are specially designed to handle peak freighter cargo alongside general cargo flows.

In addition to these three new facilities, the development will also encompass two existing buildings—the 140,000 square foot Cargo Point and West Point, which has a capacity of 79,000 square feet.

When complete, the enhanced complex will also encompass dnata’s existing 60,000 square foot self-contained transport yard, where it has a fleet of 85 modern trucks equipped with GPS tracking equipment providing 24/7 coverage with 4,000 truck movements currently servicing 656 flights every week.

"dnata’s growth strategy aligns well with Gold Medal Travel Group — its comprehensive travel services complement dnata’s established international travel offering, and will further enhance the proposition we offer our customers be it to trade, corporates or individuals,” said Iain Andrew, Divisional Senior Vice President of dnata’s travel business. “Gold Medal Travel Group is a successful company, with strong products supported by an excellent management team, and a compelling business strategy.

“This is a significant strategic partnership between two global brands, and will accelerate the growth trajectories of both Gold Medal Travel Group and dnata,” said Steve Barrass, Managing Director, Gold Medal Travel Group. “Post this transaction, Gold Medal Travel Group will continue as the exclusive provider of scheduled air travel and car rental products to Thomas Cook UK and we look forward to combining forces with dnata to expand our offerings to our customers.”

Based in Preston, UK, Gold Medal Travel Group handles more than 275,000 travel bookings a year and is one of the biggest tour operators to Dubai.  This coupled with dnata’s experience in the Emirate will strengthen the companies’ inbound travel services and support continued tourism growth in the UAE.

“Netflights.com and Pure Luxury further position dnata as an international leader in travel services, able to offer customers superior travel options,” added Andrew “Having the combined strength of guaranteed distribution through our independent agents, OTAs, wholesalers, and Thomas Cook UK allows us to source the very best product and offers from our close industry partners.”

The acquisition is effective from 11 February 2014, with no interruption to the services offered by Gold Medal Travel Group. The business will continue under the Gold Medal Travel Group branding.

DUBAI, U.A.E. and London, UK 26 November 2013: To cater to the growing executive jet sector, dnata UK has launched Private Aviation Services at London’s Heathrow airport. dnata's new service ensures all aspects of the private aviation sector—VIP passengers, pilots and crew, and airport services—are handled by specialists, dedicated to delivering the best services.

With the addition of private aviation services, dnata’s UK operations at Heathrow are now capable of handling type of aircraft, from helicopters to A380s.

“The launch of private aviation services at Heathrow airport makes dnata the airport’s only one-stop-shop for all air services—from ground handling and cargo to passenger services and VIP handling—we are able deliver results for all aviation customers,” said Paul Williams, Business Development Director – Ground Services of dnata’s UK operations. “Our expertise in private aviation services extends beyond ground handling, and includes pilot and crew services, airport services, access to the Royal Suite Terminal, VIP passenger handling and smooth airport transfers.” 

The specialised requirements of private aviation demand a deep understanding of the industry and its protocols. dnata has been providing air services internationally since its inception in 1959 in Dubai and recently launched private aviation services at Singapore’s Changi airport. 

“dnata’s comprehensive service offering ensures each guest and flight arriving and departing from Heathrow will enjoy the best service possible,” added Williams. “Our team of experts is able to handle all passenger needs, be it government representatives, royalty or celebrities.”

dnata's UK currently provides ground handling and cargo services at Heathrow and Manchester airports, with additional cargo capabilities at Gatwick, Glasgow and Birmingham airports.

DUBAI, UAE and LONDON, UK, 30 October 2013 – In an effort to further improve its cargo infrastructure in the UK, dnata has announced the opening of three new facilities at Gatwick, Birmingham, and Glasgow, expanding the company’s cargo capabilities to five of the country’s key regional airports including Heathrow and Manchester.

Development at the three additional regional airports complements the approaching opening of dnata City, Heathrow’s newest cargo hub. The cargo facilities at Birmingham, Gatwick, and Glasgow will add 25,000 sq. ft., 17,000 sq. ft. and 15,000 sq. ft. respectively to dnata City’s 206,000 sq. ft. of cargo capacity.

“Adding cargo capacity at Birmingham, Gatwick and Glasgow airports supports the smooth flow of shipments throughout the UK,” said Gary Morgan, CEO of dnata’s UK operations. “With these new facilities our customers have full UK coverage through the dnata UK network.”

The expansion to three of the UK’s key regional airports provides customers the opportunity to expand their import and export reach into the country. With a simplified service offering, dnata ensures cargo efficiently reaches its destination, throughout the UK.

“Cargo volumes coming in and out of the UK need to easily make it to the far reaches of the country,” added Morgan. “By adding cargo services at these regional airports, on top of our existing capabilities at Heathrow, and Manchester, dnata customers can rest easy knowing that there will be a seamless service across the UK network”

To date, dnata has invested more than £100 million in the cargo infrastructure at Heathrow and throughout the UK. dnata is also reviewing opportunities at Newcastle and East Midlands Airports.

One of the most jaw-dropping facts about Little Red – aside from Richard Branson wearing a kilt at the launch ceremony – is that dnata hired a team of nearly 50 and trained them for six weeks prior to the launch. After start-up, the team received a further six weeks of training support.

Operating in three different shifts at London Heathrow, the team – including 39 ramp agents – is responsible for aircraft handling for arrival and departures and also baggage sorting.

Training the team did throw up a few challenges, according to Keith Wood, Service Delivery Manager. “The biggest challenge we faced in training was the fact that the Little Red operation involves the loose-loaded narrow-bodied aircraft type.

“This type of operation was new for dnata at London Heathrow Airport. Therefore the training package had to be bespoke for the Terminal 1 operation.” He continued: “However, as most of the staff had no airport experience, we were able to train them with best practice habits from the start.”

When it comes to resourcing the new talent, Stuart Matheson, Project Delivery Manager, explains how a fluid shift strategy allows the teams to react to the situation on the ground.

“Shifts work as one group, so they are all responsible for the safe and on-time departure of all the flights on their shift. When one of the teams on shift has a few spare minutes before their allocated task, they assist the other teams. It builds the ability to react according to what is actually happening in the operation, without having to be told by a manager.”

Stuart explained that this method helps to smooth out any peaks of activity followed by troughs of inactivity.

“The duty management can concentrate on quality and safety in the knowledge that the teams already have the resourcing issues covered,” he added.

• 6 weeks of training
• 39 ramp agents
• 46 dedicated dnata staff

Virgin Atlantic and dnata have been working together for more than 25 years. During that time, the partnership has grown and now includes ramp handling for Virgin Atlantic’s long-haul operations from Terminal 3 and its UK cargo handling business, in addition to the Terminal 1 short-haul operations. In this latest deal, starting from 31st March 2013, dnata’s UK operation will begin ramp handling for Virgin’s short-haul services from Terminal 1.

“dnata’s relationship with Virgin Atlantic has proven to be one of our most important and successful partnerships to date,” said Gary Morgan, CEO of dnata’s UK operations. “The two companies have been instrumental in each other’s growth within the UK, and this new contract reaffirms Virgin Atlantic’s confidence with dnata’s services.”

dnata currently services 21 daily flights for Virgin Atlantic’s long-haul service from Terminal 3. Under the new short-haul contract, dnata will manage Virgin Atlantic’s 13 daily flights of its A320 operation.

Forty six additional staff have been recruited by dnata at Heathrow as a result of this contract award which will provide a additional economic boost for the local area.

“dnata is committed to delivering the promises our customers make,” added Morgan. “From cargo handling to airport operations, our top priority is ensuring our customers receive quality and industry-leading services. We look forward to continuing and growing the connection between dnata and Virgin Atlantic.”

The business relationship between the two companies dates back to 1987 when Virgin Atlantic was the launch customer for Plane Trucking’s handling operation in the UK, which later became Plane Handling. dnata acquired Plane Handling in 2010.

The innovative website www.dnatacity.co.uk features an array of information about dnata City and its enhanced freight facilities at the UK’s Heathrow Airport. The project includes a 20-acre cargo complex centred around five air freight warehouses, a transportation facility and yard for airside operations enclosed in a security-fenced area. 

“As a global player in the air cargo business, dnata is committed to making a strong contribution to improving Heathrow Airport’s air cargo infrastructure,” said Gary Morgan, CEO of dnata’s UK operations. “We were concerned about the lack of new air cargo facilities and felt the need to step forward to create and deliver industry-leading air cargo services which will shape the future of our industry at Heathrow,” he continued. 

Two of the dnata City buildings—the 140,000 square foot Cargo Point and 79,000 square foot West Point—currently handle 21 wide-body flights daily for Virgin Atlantic, with a 60,000 square foot facility nearby at Bedfont Road dedicated to Cathay Pacific’s passenger and freighter cargo operations. The dnata City complex will also encompass the handler’s existing 60,000 square foot self-contained transport yard, where it has a fleet of 85 modern trucks equipped with GPS tracking equipment providing 24/7 coverage with 4,000 truck movements currently servicing 656 flights every week. 

“dnata City can offer customers a range of versatile options to suit their specific needs,” said Mohammed Akhlaq, Business Development Director, Cargo, for dnata’s business in the UK. “At this stage we are able to have meaningful input from carriers into both design aspects and to ensure we have the required handling systems in place.” 

Three additional facilities at dnata City will provide 206,000 sq ft of new cargo space. The new, state-of-the-art buildings will consist of a 78,000 sq ft cargo warehouse with 15,000 sq ft of office space; a 54,000 sq ft facility with 11,000 sq ft of offices and a 40,000 sq ft building with 8,000 sq ft of office space. The new facilities will also feature fully automated cargo handling systems as well as chiller rooms, valuable handling facilities and are specially designed to handle peak freighter cargo alongside general cargo flows.

At Manchester airport, Airblue, operating its first wide body A340 operation from Pakistan has signed a multi-year agreement for dnata to service its cargo handling business. The carrier, which flies four times a week to both Islamabad and Lahore will be utilising dnata’s extensive UK handling network and inter-airport trucking service. 

“We were impressed by the partnership arrangement offered by dnata. We felt it was a real alternative in the market place and one that will help launch and grow our cargo product on this route,” said Ghulam Raza Channa, Airblue’s Country Manager, UK. 

Further south in the UK, the team at dnata’s London Heathrow operation have just begun providing cargo handling services for Aeromexico’s B767 operation three times a week to Mexico City. As part of the agreement, the carrier will also have the ability to connect its London Heathrow service to the wider UK regional airports network by utilising dnata’s inter-airport trucking services. 

 “Our teams at London Heathrow and Manchester provide an excellent level of service to our airline customers and this reputation and commitment has helped build strong partnerships with carriers we currently handle and has played a major part in our success in winning new business,” said Gary Morgan, CEO of dnata’s business in the UK. “We look forward to working with both Airblue and Aeromexico to help them establish their businesses in the UK market.” 

Following a re-brand last year including a fresh new uniform for staff earlier this year, dnata has also had recent senior management changes.  Gary Morgan has been appointed as CEO, UK and Mohammed Akhlaq joined as Business Development Director, Cargo. dnata’s business in the UK continues to go from strength to strength and there will be more announcements on new projects coming up in the New Year.

As part of a new partnership initiative with British Airways and embracing the 10-year contract that commenced in 2010, Alpha has completely restructured its operating model around the latest thinking in logistics management to meet current needs as well as incorporating flexibility in anticipation of future changes.

The new model at Gatwick is a key step in a major operational restructuring initiative to deliver significant savings over the life of the contract. It was completed on time, on budget and is on track to deliver its promise.

The Gatwick team has opened a new Pure Logistics Centre which focuses on delivering a simplified and more efficient service to the airline for all products, in turn supported by an off site Production Kitchen enabling the company to provide the highest standards of culinary excellence for British Airways' premium passengers, as well as a state of the art Customer Suite.

The Alpha/ British Airways team also has exciting plans to use the Customer suite for customer research and sampling sessions through inviting frequent flyers to participate in future menu design concepts.

Alpha has pioneered a new generation of logistics management for the inflight sector, one that is truly flexible, is service delivery orientated, highly cost focused, with a high customer value and appearance perception.

• As part of a new partnership initiative, Alpha launched a revolutionary new model designed to reduce costs and improve service over the term of a 10 year contract which commenced in 2010. The new model consists of three key components - a Pure Logistics Centre, an off-site Production Kitchen and a Customer Suite.
• The initiative, which represented major change to process, structure and systems, was launched on time and within budget - a real testament to the high calibre of the management and staff dedicated to BA in LGW and the strength and vision of Alpha's Central Support Team.