The recognition highlights the company’s efforts to improve environmental efficiency across its diverse operations, including its airport operations, travel and catering & retail business units.
The Aviation Industry Awards celebrate the most innovative individuals and companies driving excellence in the UK's aviation sector.
Stewart Angus, dnata’s regional CEO for Europe, who accepted the award on behalf of the company, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this prestigious award, especially in such an important category. Being selected from a shortlist of leading aviation companies shows the real impact our teams are making through their hard work and dedication in reducing our environmental footprint. We will continue to work closely with our partners to drive a positive change in the aviation industry.”
dnata recently reported significant improvements across key environmental performance metrics for the financial year 2023-24, cutting the carbon intensity of its operations by over 8%, 22% and 26% across its airport operations, travel and catering businesses, respectively.
The company consistently invests in its modern fleet to improve environmental efficiency. Its fleet strategy commits to phasing out diesel-operated engines and switching to hybrid, electric, or hydrogen wherever airports have provided the necessary infrastructure. As a result of its investments in recent years, 65% of dnata’s fleet is now electric in the Netherlands, 44% in Italy, 40% in the UK, and 39% in Switzerland.
dnata also maintains a strong focus on minimising fuel consumption. It monitors the consumption of fuel across its fleet of ground support equipment (GSE) using Vehicle Tracking Management systems; conducts logistics mapping exercises to ensure minimal distances are travelled airside; and optimises shifts and parking slots to avoid excessive fuel burn.
In addition, it tracks the behaviour of drivers, including vehicle idling times, and has key performance indicators linked to the environmental management system.
dnata actively engages with biofuel suppliers to reduce emissions. Several of dnata’s businesses have already deployed low carbon alternatives to replace diesel: in Schiphol airport, it replaced over 674,000 litres with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO100) in the previous financial year. Most recently, it has transitioned its entire non-electric fleet to biodiesel at the two Dubai airports, Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum - Dubai World Central (DWC).
