Zurich, Switzerland – dnata, the Emirates Group’s air services provider, has confirmed that construction of its new dnata Cargo Centre at Zurich Airport is progressing on schedule, with an official opening planned for early 2027. The development represents a major long-term investment in dnata’s Swiss operations, designed to enhance operational efficiency, increase handling capacity, and strengthen service reliability for customers and partners.
The new facility will expand dnata’s freight handling capability at Zurich by 50%, increasing annual throughput from 60,000 to 90,000 tonnes. In 2025, dnata processed 56,000 tonnes of cargo at the airport, up nearly 4% year-on-year, reflecting continued demand for high-quality cargo handling services and the need for enhanced infrastructure.
State-of-the-Art Infrastructure
The Cargo Centre will feature 8,330 m² of warehouse space, including 7,580 m² for indoor cargo handling and 4,600 m² of covered outdoor areas. Two truck docks for ULD handling and 18 dock levellers will improve landside access and turnaround times, while increased storage capacity will allow dnata to manage higher cargo volumes more effectively.
A dedicated 1,000 m² pharmaceutical handling area will support GDP-compliant operations with temperature-controlled zones for 2–8°C and 15–25°C cargo. An advanced ULD material handling system will streamline cargo flows, enhance throughput, and improve operational control, while modern office spaces will foster closer collaboration between operational and administrative teams.
The facility is expected to support a range of cargo types, from general freight to specialised shipments such as pharmaceuticals, helping dnata meet growing demand at Zurich Airport.
Phased Transition
dnata will relocate from its current Fracht West warehouse, originally built in the 1960s, which has reached the limits of its operational capacity. The move to the new Cargo Centre will be phased to ensure uninterrupted service. Early access will allow installation of specialised infrastructure, followed by progressive handover of warehouse and office spaces and a staged relocation of teams before fully transferring cargo operations from the Fracht West facility.
The new centre is being developed in collaboration with Zurich Airport, which is investing over CHF 40 million in the building infrastructure. dnata is committing approximately CHF 6 million to equip the site, including installation of the modern ULD handling system.
Long-Term Strategic Investment
Willy Ruf, Managing Director of dnata Switzerland, commented: “The new dnata Cargo Centre represents a significant long-term investment in our Zurich operations. Cargo handling at Zurich has evolved considerably over the past decade, with higher volumes, tighter turnaround expectations, and a growing share of specialised shipments. This facility allows us to redesign cargo flows from landside access to warehouse handling to reflect today’s operational realities.”
The Zurich development forms part of dnata’s broader global expansion of cargo infrastructure, following the opening of a new cargo centre in Amsterdam and ongoing projects in Milan, Dubai, and Erbil.
