dnata has signed a concession agreement with the Government of Zanzibar, along with Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP, a joint venture between airport infrastructure and operations specialists Egis and private equity fund manager AIIM.

Under the partnership, dnata will oversee the operations of Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport’s (ZNZ) newly built terminal 3, with SEGAP supporting the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) in a management capacity. Emirates Leisure Retail will partner with MMI as master concessionaire for all food and beverage, duty free and commercial outlets at T3.

dnata will provide quality ground and passenger handling services to airline customers at ZNZ to ensure safe and timely operations of flights. It expects to handle over 4,000 flights annually at the airport.

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The ground handler will also invest in a state-of-the-art cargo centre to establish cargo operations at the airport, supporting local trade and businesses. The facility will comply with the highest industry standards in the efficient and safe handling of cargo, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods, live animals, aircraft engines and vehicles.

It will also launch meet & greet and lounge services through its airport hospitality brand, marhaba, to further enhance the passenger experience and the airport journey from check-in to boarding.

The expansion into Zanzibar represents an investment of over US$7 million and will create up to 400 direct local jobs with the company, dnata noted. It also represents dnata’s first operation in Tanzania. dnata services provider now provides services in 36 countries.