Global air services provider dnata has signed  another multi-year agreement with Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines to provide full ground handling services for the airline’s new flights to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport.

This is the second Chinese airline customer that dnata has won this year, adding to the contract with Xiamen Air announced earlier in the month. Dnata is now the major supplier of ground handling services to six Chinese carriers in Australia, including China Eastern, China Southern, Cathay Pacific, Sichuan Airlines, Xiamen Air and Hainan Airlines. Collectively, dnata handles more than 80 weekly flights into Australia for these carriers.

“We are honoured that Hainan Airlines has selected dnata to be their preferred partner for ground handling services in Australia. It reiterates our ability to understand the requirements of Chinese carriers and provide them with the service they expect. The entry of more Chinese carriers demonstrates the growing demand for air travel from the Chinese market to Australia. As China’s outbound travel continues to rise, we look forward to handling higher volumes and more routes for our customers,” said Daniela Marsilli, CEO, dnata Australia.

Hainan Airlines is a Skytrax five-star airline and was recently named the "Best Airline in China" by two major US travel publications: Global Traveler and Premier Traveler. Starting December 23, the airline will operate a twice-weekly service from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport in Xi'an, the capital of China's Shaanxi Province to Sydney. Each service will be offered on an A330 Airbus, which can take up to 222 passengers.

Established in 1959, dnata ensures the aviation industry operates smoothly and efficiently in 103 airports across the Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa. Offering ground handling, cargo, travel, and flight catering services, dnata is a trusted partner for over 380 airline customers. Each year in Australia, dnata serves 22 airline customers, handles more than 29,000 flights, 5 million passengers and 220,000 tonnes of cargo. - TradeArabia News Service