Dnata buys UK cargo-handling operations

DNATA has bought two of the UK’s leading ground-handling operations from the Go-Ahead Group. For £15 million (US$24.0 million) it will acquire Plane Handling and Aviance, which provide cargo, passenger and ramp-handling services at London Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
The transaction will be completed on 30 January, 2010.With these acquisitions, Dnata will then operate at 19 airports in eight countries, including Australia, China, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland and the UAE.
Gary Chapman, Dnata’s president, said: “We are very pleased to add Heathrow and Manchester to our growing international network. These businesses already provide an outstanding quality of service to their airline customers in the UK and will be a perfect fit with our businesses…across the globe.”
Robert Williams, managing director of Plane Handling, will assume responsibility for both business units.Both companies’ operations provide airline and cargo handling to over 20 airlines at Heathrow and Manchester, including Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, Jet, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. 

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