dnata to enter German cargo market through acquisition

Source: dnata and Cologne Bonn Airport

Cargo handler dnata will enter the German market at Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) through the acquisition of Wisskirchen Handling Services.

Wisskirchen is the exclusive operator of the Cologne Bonn Cargo Centre, a 12,000 sq m facility at CGN, and provides a full range of cargo services via a team 180 employees.

The company handles more than 85,000 tonnes of cargo annually, including general cargo, perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods, electronics and fast-moving consumer goods.

Dnata said that CGN is the third largest airport in Germany in terms of cargo operations with “significant capacity for further growth”.

“It operates 24 hours a day and is ideally located in the heart of northwest Europe with excellent road connections,” the handler said. “In 2021 cargo handled at CGN increased by 14% year over year, marking a new annual record for the airport.”

Stewart Angus, dnata’s regional chief executive for Europe, said: “This is part of our continued broader investment in cargo infrastructure. Since 2014 we have invested in nine new cargo facilities in Europe. We look forward to playing our role in the next stage of development of Cologne/Bonn Airport as a major cargo hub.” 

Thilo Schmid, chairman of the executive board of Cologne Bonn Airport, added: “We are delighted to welcome dnata, a renowned global player in the field of airport services, to Cologne/Bonn. The commitment of dnata will help to further increase the efficiency in cargo handling in our Cargo Center and is proof of the great location quality of Cologne/Bonn Airport as well as its central importance as the most important logistics hub in NRW.”

The acquisition is the latest in a series of investments in cargo over recent years.

Between 2019 and 2022 the company has added new facilities in Karachi, Lahore, Brussels, and Manchester and in the coming weeks will open dnata City East Phase 2 at Heathrow.

The company has also expanded existing facilities in Dubai, Sydney and Toronto.

Looking ahead, dnata recently announced a €200m investment in a fully automated cargo centre at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).

The 61,000 sq m dnata Cargo City Amsterdam facility, located at Schiphol South-East, will be capable of processing over 850,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

dnata invests in cargo despite volatility

Work underway on new dnata Heathrow facility

Dnata invests in Amsterdam automated cargo centre

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Damian Brett

Damian Brett
I have been writing about the freight and logistics industry since 2007 when I joined International Freighting Weekly to cover the shipping sector. After a stint in PR, I have gone on to work for Containerisation International and Lloyds List - where I was editor of container shipping - before joining Air Cargo News in 2015. Contact me on [email protected]