Dubai’s Dnata Fully Acquires Italian Flight Caterer

Dubai-based air services provider dnata announced that it has completely acquired Italian company Servair Airchef, in which it already had a 50 per cent stake. The financial value of the deal was not disclosed.

Alpha, a dnata subsidiary acquired in 2010, became a shareholder of Servair Airchef in 2001.

The Italian in-flight caterer currently operates in 23 airports including Rome, Milan and Venice, employs around 700 employees and produces around 40,000 meals daily.

The company also provides aircraft cleaning services at seven Italian airports.


”The full acquisition of this business reflects dnata’s long term strategy to further invest in its core business,” said Stewart Angus, divisional senior vice president, dnata.

“The Italian business complements our existing in-flight catering and cabin cleaning operations around the world.”

Government-owned dnata, part of the Emirates Group, has been rapidly expanding its in-flight catering division.

In March this year, the company announced that it was setting up a new, jointly-owned in-flight catering services group in South Africa along with the Newrest Group and Mentor Africa.

The new company, called dnata Newrest, was formed by Wings Inflight Services – jointly owned by dnata and Mentor Africa – by acquiring the services business of Newrest First Catering in South Africa.

“The new joint venture aims to provide a sustainable future for all key stakeholders and employees in the challenging South African market,” dnata said.