UAE’s dnata to provide services at Zanzibar airport

UAE-based air and travel services provider dnata will now oversee the operations of Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport’s (ZNZ) newly-built international terminal (T3), with SEGAP supporting the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) in a management capacity.

The announcement was made following a concession agreement signed between dnata and the government of Zanzibar, along with Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP, a joint venture between airport infrastructure and operations specialists Egis, and private equity fund manager AIIM.

Emirates Leisure Retail will partner with MMI as master concessionaire for all food and beverage, duty free and commercial outlets at T3.

Its expansion into Zanzibar represents an investment of over $7m and will reportedly create up to 400 direct local jobs with the company.

Dnata will provide its ground and passenger handling services to airline customers at ZNZ, and expects to handle more than 4,000 flights annually at the airport.

It will also invest in a cargo centre to establish cargo operations at the airport, supporting local trade and businesses. The facility will handle a broad range of cargo, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods, live animals, aircraft engines and vehicles.

In addition, dnata will launch meet-and-greet and lounge services through its airport hospitality brand, Marhaba.

Including this latest investment which is dnata’s first operation in Tanzania, dnata now provides ground handling, cargo, catering and travel services in 36 countries.

“We are thrilled to expand our global footprint into Africa and establish operations at the airport of Zanzibar. We are confident that our investment in the local aviation industry will stimulate tourism and trade, delivering significant benefits for Zanzibar businesses and the local community,” said Steve Allen, executive vice president of dnata and chairman of Emirates Leisure Retail and MMI.

Christian Laugier, CEO of sales for Egis, added, “Our teams will focus on performance across all areas, including infrastructure, operations, safety and security, governance and finance. Our efforts will be on making the airport and air transport more effective catalysts for tourism growth in a destination that has everything to attract visitors, from pristine beaches to a UNESCO World Heritage site.”