Global air and travel services provider dnata has announced a significant expansion of its operations in Erbil, Iraq.
The company has opened a new, advanced cool chain facility and a bus maintenance facility for its state-of-the-art bussing fleets at Erbil International Airport (EBL), which together represent a total investment of $3.5 million (AED12.9 million).
dnata also announced that it would invest an additional $14 million and add a 16,000 square metres of cargo warehouse to its infrastructure in Iraq. The three new facilities will create up to 100 local jobs with dnata.
dnata’s new cool chain facility can process 10,000 tons of perishable goods annually, offering chilled and frozen storage to its airline customers at Erbil Airport. These include fresh fruit, meat and pharmaceuticals.
The new bus maintenance facility has been designed to maintain a fleet of eight passenger apron buses and over 10 transportation buses operated at the Iraqi airport.
dnata’s new cargo warehouse, which is expected to open in 2023, will further enhance the company’s cargo offering in Iraq. It can process 100,000 tonnes of cargo, with a special focus on pharma and other cool chain commodities.
The facility will be equipped with the latest technologies, including environmentally sustainable features such as water harvesting, low energy lighting and an all-electric forklift fleet.
dnata currently provides passenger, ground and cargo services to more than 25 airlines in Erbil. In 2021, the company assisted over 1.2 million passengers and handled 8,200 flights and 20,000 tonnes of cargo.
Managing Director of dnata Erbil, Tom Alwyn-Jones, said, “Our latest investment in three new facilities will help us further expand and improve our operations in Erbil as demand for reliable and safe cargo services is on the rise across the region.”
In recent years, dnata has also made strategic investments in new cargo facilities in the UK, Pakistan, Belgium, Australia and Canada.
In addition, the company recently announced that it would invest over €200 million (AED774 million) in its operations in The Netherlands, and operate one of the world’s largest and most advanced cargo facilities, dnata Cargo City Amsterdam, at Schiphol Airport.
dnata provides quality and reliable ground handling, cargo, catering and retail services at more than 120 airports in 19 countries.
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