Global air and travel services provider dnata has opened a state-of-the-art cargo centre at London Heathrow airport (LHR).

Part of dnata’s City East complex, the bespoke facility increases cargo capacity at LHR and ensures continued smooth handling of a broad range of goods.

Located south of LHR, City East is now the largest off-site cargo handling operation at the UK’s largest commercial aviation hub with a team of over 750 highly-trained employee. The new 10,500m² centre was designed to operate in conjunction with the existing 22,500m² facility that opened in September 2019, with the new centre handling imports and the original facility dealing with exports. In 2021, dnata handled in excess of 500,000 tonnes of cargo for more than 30 airlines.

They incorporate the latest carbon reduction initiatives in design and operation, including the use of solar PV panels, air-source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging. dnata City East has already achieved a BREEAM Excellent environmental rating for its design stage, with the same status also expected for the construction process.

Having added seven facilities, including six new builds, to its infrastructure over the past eight years, dnata now operates 13 cargo centres at six airports in the UK. The company can handle more than 800,000 tons of cargo annually across the country.