Dubai: Emirates airline’s ground and cargo handling unit, dnata, said on Monday it has extended its 25-year-long relationship with Virgin Atlantic Airways at London’s Heathrow Airport.
The partnership between the two companies has grown over the years to include ramp handling for Virgin Atlantic’s long-haul operations from Terminal 3 and its UK cargo handling business, in addition to the Terminal 1 short-haul operations.
And in this latest deal, effective March 31, 2013, dnata’s UK operation will begin ramp handling for Virgin’s short-haul services from Terminal 1, according to dnata.
“The two companies have been instrumental in each other’s growth within the UK, and this new contract reaffirms Virgin Atlantic’s confidence with dnata’s services,” Gary Morgan, chief executive of dnata’s UK operations, said in a statement.
Currently servicing 21 daily flights for Virgin Atlantic’s long-haul service from Terminal 3, dnata, under the new short-haul contract, will manage the British carrier’s 13 daily flights of its A320 operation, dnata said.
Air services providers, offering ground and cargo handling, travel, technology solutions and in-flight catering, dnata entered the ground handling market in the UK in 2010, acquiring two of the UK’s leading airport operations — Plane Handling, providing ramp and cargo handling services at Heathrow Airport as well as cargo handling services at Manchester Airport.
