The modern air cargo terminal is no longer just a warehouse—it’s becoming a smart, data-driven logistics engine. For dnata, that future is already taking shape. With investments in automation, predictive analytics, infrastructure, and sustainability, the global ground handler is laying the foundation for what Chief Cargo Officer Guillaume Crozier called “a truly customer-centric and efficient cargo ecosystem.”
At the core of dnata’s transformation is OneCargo, a fully integrated digital platform being deployed across its global network. Supporting warehouse operations, third-party logistics, and first- and last-mile fulfilment, OneCargo provides the architecture for real-time data flow and service visibility.
That digital ecosystem is further enhanced by the new generation of Calogi, dnata’s airport community system launched in 2024.
“It’s already helping us deliver near real-time visibility for our customers,” Crozier said. “It also lets us expand our service offering—from cargo handling to road feeder services and fulfilment.”
Complementing this is a powerful data warehouse infrastructure, designed to make dnata’s network AI-ready by enabling seamless data structuring and predictive analysis.
Innovation on show
dnata’s commitment to smart cargo handling is best illustrated by its deployment of autonomous drones in Dubai. These have significantly improved inventory management by reducing rack processing times and increasing accuracy.
Elsewhere, computer vision technology is changing the way cargo is loaded. In Singapore, dnata’s partnership with Speedcargo enables cargo dimensioning and pallet optimisation with real-time precision.
“This helps us maximise aircraft payload and give our airline partners a true track-and-trace capability,” Crozier noted.
This tech is already expanding into the UK, UAE, and dnata’s new Amsterdam facility, where smart gates and advanced surveillance will be standard.
Infrastructure to match
dnata’s smart systems are backed by serious infrastructure plans. In the UAE, its Business Enhancement Programme aims to boost throughput by 20 percent across existing sites by reengineering operational flows.
Looking ahead, dnata will launch a dedicated e-commerce terminal in mid-2026, and master planning is underway for a new cargo terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
dnata’s Amsterdam Cargo City, opening in 2025, is set to be a flagship facility—fully automated and capable of handling 850,000 tonnes annually. It will also be a beacon of sustainable design.
Amid growing concerns around theft and cyber threats, dnata is reinforcing its security architecture. Its cargo operations are protected by a cybersecurity assurance programme and smart surveillance systems, including automated shipment imaging, real-time tracking, and risk alerts.
Crozier believes that transparency and automation go hand-in-hand. “Our systems allow us to prepare shipments before the truck even arrives at the dock. That kind of visibility reduces disruption and improves service.”
As part of dnata’s global sustainability strategy, its cargo operations are moving toward net-zero goals. From solar panels and smart HVAC systems to recycled materials and rainwater harvesting, new facilities are built to BREEAM standards.
dnata also leads in ground fleet electrification: more than 70 percent of its vehicles in Amsterdam now run on electricity or solar power, while the remainder operate on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO)—a cleaner, renewable alternative to diesel. In London, switching 70 trucks to HVO has already saved more than 2,400 tonnes of CO2e annually.
In 2024, dnata became the first European ground handler to achieve IATA’s IEnvA certification, underscoring its sustainability leadership.
Crozier sees the convergence of robotics and AI as the next big leap for cargo.
