Dnata buys majority stake in Dubai baggage services company
DUBAI, June 12, 2018
Dnata, one of the world's largest air services providers, has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in logistics company Dubz and has subsequently launched a new baggage collection service.
According to a statement released by the company, passengers flying out from Dubai with flydubai can enjoy the convenience of checking in their baggage and getting their boarding passes from their home or hotel.
The company is also offering its new home check-in service for passengers flying with Saudi Arabian carriers Saudia and flynas. They have the capability to extend this to any carrier and are currently in discussions with other airlines to make it available to their passengers soon.
Dubz was started in 2016 by three entrepreneurs who saw the opportunity to provide a practical and technology-enabled service to travellers in Dubai – the collection of baggage from their homes or hotels before a flight, and delivery of bags to the home or hotel on arrival in Dubai. Available 24 hours a day, the service can be booked online.
Since its launch, the company has seen strong demand for its services from customers who want a hassle-free journey to and from the airport, especially when travelling in groups.
From bag collection and delivery, to full home check-in service
At present, the company collects the baggage from the passenger’s home or hotel, seals and weighs the bags, securely transports them to Dubai International Airport and hands them over to the passenger for self-check-in. Upon arrival in Dubai, passengers can also leave their bags with Dubz after retrieving them from the baggage carousels.
With dnata taking a majority stake in Dubz, the companies are now offering passengers a home check-in service where they will not only have their baggage collected at home or the hotel, but will also get their baggage checked-in on the spot, and collect their boarding passes from Dubz. Passengers using this service can proceed straight to airport immigration, avoiding queues at the airline check-in counters with the assurance that their bags have already been checked in with the airline.
In addition, passengers on any airline arriving at Terminals 1 and 2 at Dubai International Airport and Al-Maktoum International Airport can appoint Dubz to collect their baggage at the carousels, clear customs on their behalf and deliver the bags straight to their home or hotel. - TradeArabia News Service
Technology and tracking
Dubz’s robust technology platform has been integrated with airport data to help customers select the most suitable pick-up times for their baggage. Dubz also partnered with World Security to implement GPS tracking in all its vehicles, live CCTV screening at its facilities and smartphones for its drivers to manage paperless transactions, all the more to provide passengers with a seamless and hassle-free experience.
“At dnata, we’re always looking for ways to enhance the customer’s experience at every touch point of their journey. With DUBZ’s innovative idea to create convenience for travellers, we’re now able to extend our service beyond the airport to let them check in for their flights from home. It saves them time and provides peace of mind. With success in Dubai, we hope to roll this out as a dnata product around the world,” said Steve Allen, Divisional senior vice president - UAE Airport Operations, dnata.
“We’ve found in dnata a strategic partner whose industry leadership and commercial strength will help take our product offering to the next level. Our goal is to scale up the business while maintaining the agility and service standards we’ve achieved since inception,” said Omar Abou Faraj, CEO and co-founder of Dubz.
The new luggage check-in services cost Dh110 ($29.9) each for the first and second bags or Dh299 ($81.3) for the first three bags, and Dh30 ($8.1) for every additional bag after that. For the baggage belt pick up service, it is Dh99 ($26.9) for the first bag and Dh40 ($10.8) for every additional bag. - TradeArabia News Service