dnata announced that it has become the first ground handler in Europe to receive the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) environmental management certification.

IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) is a certification programme developed to independently assess the commitment of aviation stakeholders, such as airlines, airports, cargo handling facilities, freight forwarders, and ramp handlers, to continuously improve their environmental and sustainability performance.

dnata said IATA's comprehensive evaluation rigorously assessed its sustainability practices and efforts across its extensive operations at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). 

"We are proud to be the first ground handler to earn the prestigious IEnvA certification in Europe. This accomplishment reflects our team's dedication to environmental efficiency and our consistent efforts to contribute to dnata's global decarbonisation journey. We will continue investing in infrastructure, equipment and process improvement to further reduce our environmental footprint," said Jan van Anrooy, managing director, dnata Netherlands.

Rafael Schvartzman, regional vice president of Europe, IATA, said this milestone demonstrates dnata Schiphol's commitment to sustainable aviation and environmental excellence.

"We congratulate dnata Netherlands on becoming the first ground and cargo handler in Europe to achieve full IEnvA registration," he said.

"Adhering to global environmental standards and best practices, dnata Schiphol is setting a strong example for the industry. We look forward to working together to further advance sustainable aviation practices," he added.

In recent years, dnata Netherlands has significantly invested in electrifying its ground handling fleet to reduce emissions.

It said that currently, more than 70% of its ground support equipment fleet is powered by electricity or solar energy, with the remainder operating on 100% Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO100) biofuel.  

dnata's newest facility, dnata Cargo City Amsterdam, was also designed with a focus on sustainability.

Scheduled to open in 2025, the facility will be equipped with solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations and air-source heat pumps.

The cargo centre will be BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) certified. 

dnata provides ground and cargo handling services in Amsterdam. It serves 37 airlines, handles 10,000 flights, and moves 550,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

Globally, dnata recently reported significant improvements across key environmental performance metrics for the financial year 2023-24. 

It said that the company cut the carbon intensity of its operations by over 8%, 22% and 26% across its airport operations, travel and catering businesses, respectively. 

In addition to The Netherlands, dnata also earned the IEnvA certification for its diverse portfolio of businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).