Dubai-based Dnata, the Emirates Group’s aviation and travel services subsidiary, carried more than an unprecedented 91.3 million passengers and 97.8 million bags as its UAE operations continued to expand during 2016.

The data represents more than a 16 per cent increase in the number of passengers using the airports, and 4 per cent increase in the number of flights compared to 2015.

The most travelled sector from Dubai was Doha with over 2.99 million passengers making the journey from the hub, and 3.2 million bags meeting travellers at the destination.

“It’s been a challenging year but our team has demonstrated unwavering commitment to delivering the highest standards to our customers,” said Steve Allen, DSVP Dnata Airport Operations. “We have worked hard to stay agile, efficient and innovative, while never compromising our safety and operational excellence. 2017 will require us to be even more tactile and responsive to the needs of the market, and stay on top of our game to ensure a robust year ahead.”

On its busiest day of 2016, December 23, Dnata was supported by 18,529 staff who handled 281,388 passengers and 329, 341 bags, and one aircraft movement every 73 seconds. Dnata closed the year with 419,133 tonnes of cargo at DXB which is a monthly average of 46,570 tons and an eight percent increase from the previous year.

Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central (DWC) also saw a spike in passenger numbers with Fly Dubai’s growing operations at the airport in 2016. The airport has also developed into a regional cargo hub with a capacity to grow to 16 million tonnes per year. Dnata now handles more than 117.000 tonnes of cargo at DWC and this number is expected to grow.

Dnata’s Special Handling team at DXB of 980 employees have assisted an average of 4, 000 special needs passengers every day. Over the year, Dnata invested millions into new ground support equipment (GSE) to ensure flights landing at the two airports are serviced safely and efficiently.

Currently Dnata deploys 10,000 pieces of GSE and vehicles of which 2, 000 are motorised. Dnata has introduced environment friendly electric tow tractors, conveyor belts and pushback tractors, GSE with engines meeting Euro III emission standards and testing hybrid and CNG powered vehicles; we have a vision to convert motorised equipment wherever feasible from diesel powered to electric, hybrid or CNG-powered.

Dnata has worked closely with Dubai Airports and other stakeholders on the opening of Concourse D. The new concourse has increased the airport’s capacity to an additional 16 million passengers. Dnata also operates a new marhaba lounge at Concourse D.

In addition to Dubai, Dnata has ground handling operations in 74 other airports around the world, serving more than 250 airlines, and is the world’s largest ground handler of the Airbus A380 aircraft. – TradeArabia News Service