Dnata acquiring Amsterdam cargo operations for undisclosed sum

Dnata, a subsidiary of the Emirates Group, announced on Wednesday it is acquiring cargo handling operations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol from Belgian company Aviapartner.

The two companies reached an agreement on Wednesday that will see dnata take over full cargo handling operations and a 44,000 square metres of cargo warehouse space at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, dnata said in an emailed statement.

A dnata spokesperson declined to reveal the value of the deal, which is subject to approval in the Netherlands. Dnata said it expects the deal to be approved by September 30, 2015.

"Our strategy is to offer the highest level of service excellence in each market we operate... The Aviapartner operation in Amsterdam certainly fits the bill and will enhance our growing international cargo network,” said Stewart Angus, dnata's divisional senior vice-president of international airport operations.

In addition to the cargo handling operations, dnata will also take over several specialist product lines, including the Schiphol Animal Centre, the Temperature Control Centre and Freight Ramp Handling operations.

Following the acquisition in Amsterdam, dnata will operate ten cargo businesses in Europe compared to four two years ago. It will now handle over two million tonnes of cargo at 26 airports worldwide.