Dubai-based air services provider dnata has reached a concession agreement with the Government of Zanzibar to run the operations of the newly built international Terminal 3 (T3) of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Tanzania.
Meanwhile, the agreement also involved Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP.
SEGAP, a joint venture between airport infrastructure and operations specialists Egis, and private equity fund manager AIIM will provide management support to the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA).
Emirates Leisure Retail will forge a partnership with MMI as master concessionaire for all food and beverage, duty free and commercial outlets at T3.
Airline customers at ZNZ will receive ground and passenger handling services from dnata as it intends to manage more than 4,000 flights at ZNZ a year.
Its expansion into Zanzibar represents an investment of over $7m and will reportedly create up to 400 direct local jobs with the company.
The company also aims to support local trade by establishing a cargo centre at the airport.
This facility aims to follow the ‘highest’ industry standards to safely handle different cargo such as perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods, live animals, aircraft engines and vehicles.
In addition, dnata will launch meet-and-greet and lounge services through its airport hospitality brand, Marhaba.
“We are thrilled to expand our global footprint into Africa and establish operations at the airport of Zanzibar. We are confident that our investment in the local aviation industry will stimulate tourism and trade, delivering significant benefits for Zanzibar businesses and the local community,” said Steve Allen, executive vice president of dnata and chairman of Emirates Leisure Retail and MMI.
Including this latest investment which is dnata’s first operation in Tanzania, dnata now provides ground handling, cargo, catering and travel services in 36 countries.
Christian Laugier, CEO of sales for Egis, added, “Our teams will focus on performance across all areas, including infrastructure, operations, safety and security, governance and finance. Our efforts will be on making the airport and air transport more effective catalysts for tourism growth in a destination that has everything to attract visitors, from pristine beaches to a UNESCO World Heritage site.”
By Victor Shalton Odhiambo
