Dnata will boost its cargo handling capacity by over 50% at Zürich Airport (ZRH) in Switzerland in response to continued solid demand across its operations.
Having signed a lease agreement with the airport authority, the company is planning to operate its new 9,500m² advanced warehouse facility as the sole occupant. Construction of the facility has already begun and is scheduled to be completed by 2027.
The new ‘Rächtenwisen’ warehouse will provide 20 docking ramps for trucks, and separate areas for the handling of import and export processes, as well as hazardous goods. It will also include temperature-controlled areas for sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals and other perishable items.
In line with dnata’s group target of reducing its global carbon emissions and waste to landfill by 50% by 2030, the airport also plans to install solar PV panels to the roof of the landside building.
Wily Ruf, Managing Director, dnata Switzerland, said: “We are delighted to have secured this new facility in partnership with Zürich Airport. Our cargo business continues to grow, and this warehouse will ensure that we go beyond the demands of our customers, providing them with our best-in-class ground and cargo handling services. We will continue to invest in people, infrastructure and equipment to take our business to the next level in Switzerland.”
dnata currently operates at two Swiss airports, ZRH and Geneva Airport (GVA), providing a range of ground handling and cargo services to more than 30 airlines with 1,100 customer-oriented employees.
The company has recently rolled out its advanced ‘OneCargo’ across system its cargo operations in Switzerland. OneCargo automates key business and operational functions, including safety and quality monitoring, reporting and ULD management, with an integrated, cloud-based platform. AI-driven tools and analytics provide enhanced visibility on sales and business performance, allowing customers to match real-time demand with available capacity for maximum profitability. In addition, OneCargo eliminates all redundancies and manual check sheets, substantially improving operational efficiency.
In recent years, dnata has also significantly invested in advanced equipment, including “green” ground support equipment (GSE) in Switzerland. Its recent investments include five new hybrid de-icing trucks, which increased the number of electric GSE in its Swiss fleet to 35%. The company has further plans to significantly invest in electric equipment, with a target of operating an 80% “green” fleet by 2030.
