UAE’s dnata expands global cargo operations by entering Germany

Dubai-based air and travel services provider dnata has expended its European operations through the planned acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares of Germany-based Wisskirchen Handling Services (Wisskirchen).

The deal is subject to government approval, and would mark dnata’s entry into the German market.

Wisskirchen is the exclusive operator of the Cologne Bonn Cargo Centre, a 12,000 sq m facility at Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN) providing a full range of cargo services via a team of around 180 employees.

Wisskirchen handles more than 85,000 tonnes of cargo annually, including general cargo, perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods, electronics and fast moving consumer goods.

CGN is the third-largest airport in Germany in terms of cargo operations. In 2021, cargo handled at CGN increased by 14 per cent over 2020, reportedly a new annual record for the airport.

Dnata has executed agreements with the owner of Wisskirchen, Oliver Hellwig, to acquire the shares. The parties agreed not to disclose details of the transaction, with approval yet to be obtained from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in Germany.

.@dnatatravel to expand cargo operations into Germany https://t.co/wubLPV5aME pic.twitter.com/QjfNLaEXh9

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 6, 2022

Stewart Angus, dnata’s regional CEO for Europe, said: “We are delighted to announce dnata’s first cargo investment in Germany. This is part of our continued broader investment in cargo infrastructure. Since 2014 we have invested in nine new cargo facilities in Europe.”

Dnata currently provides ground handling, cargo, catering and retail services at over 120 airports in 19 countries. This included the opening of new cargo facilities in Manchester, Karachi and Lahore, and additional cargo capacity and infrastructure in Brussels, Sydney and Toronto.

Earlier this year, it confirmed that it had invested over EUR200m in a fully automated cargo centre at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). The 61,000 sq m dnata Cargo City Amsterdam facility located at Schiphol South-East is scheduled to become operational in 2024. It will be capable of processing over 850,000 tonnes of cargo annually, and will be able to handle all types of cargo, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods, mail, live animals, aircraft engines and vehicles.

Read: UAE’s dnata invests over EUR200m to operate cargo facility at Schiphol airport