Dubai-based air service provider dnata has expanded its operations at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) by opening a new cargo center.

The new cargo facility, which is part of the “dnata City East” complex, will facilitate smooth cargo handling at the airport.

Covering an area of ​​10,500 m², the new facility (Phase II) will operate alongside the existing dnata City East facility (Phase I), which was inaugurated in September 2019.

With the inauguration of the new cargo facility at LHR, dnata City East has now become the largest offsite cargo handling operation at the UK’s largest commercial aviation hub.

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Currently, dnata City East handles all air freight for Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo. The new facility will be used by the company to handle all imports while Phase I will handle all exports.

The two facilities at dnata City East, located south of LHR, would have been designed to meet the operational needs of dnata and also the requirements of the two airlines.

The company noted that its facility is equipped with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, air-source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support carbon reduction initiatives.

In addition to dnata City East, the Dubai-based air service provider offers cargo services from eight facilities at LHR.

Alex Doisneau, Managing Director of dnata UK Airport Operations, said: “We are delighted to announce the completion of dnata City East, a truly world-class facility.

“Our brand new cargo complex offers bespoke solutions, cutting-edge technology and enhanced cargo capacity to help our customers achieve sustainable growth at the UK’s busiest airport.

“We thank Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo for their support, loyalty and confidence in our services. We continue to go the extra mile to consistently provide the highest level of service and safety in our operations, every day.”

Last year, dnata handled over 500,000 tonnes of cargo in London.