“dnata” provides ground handling and cargo services at a new airport in Azerbaijan

Dnata, the global leader in aviation and travel services, has signed a joint venture agreement with the Silk Way Group in Azerbaijan to establish ground handling and cargo operations at the new Alat International Airport, located in the Alat Free Economic Zone in Baku.

The company stated in a statement yesterday that the project, which will be launched with the opening of the new passenger terminal at Alat Airport during April 2027, represents a major investment in the future of the aviation and logistics sectors in Azerbaijan, as it will combine dnata’s global expertise and the leadership of the Silk Way Group in the local market to provide integrated aviation services in Azerbaijan.

Alat International Airport will include advanced logistics facilities capable of handling more than 500,000 tons of cargo annually, with handling volume expected to grow by 5% annually over the next decade.

In its early stages, the joint project will focus on ground handling and freight services, before later expanding to include catering services, customs clearance, ice removal, and a variety of other services, with the aim of building an integrated platform for aviation services that provides carriers and customers at the airport with world-class levels of efficiency and quality.

The project is expected to create more than 1,000 local jobs, with investments in training and skills development to create long-term sustainable opportunities in Azerbaijan’s aviation sector.

Dnata is a long-term partner of the Silk Way Group, as it currently provides a range of aviation services to Silk Way West Airlines in five countries, handling approximately 1,150 flights and 85,000 tons of cargo annually.

Dnata CEO, Steve Allen, said: “Our joint venture with Silk Way represents an important step to expand dnata’s global presence and support rapid growth in the Caucasus region. The new airport in Baku will be a pivotal hub for freight flows in the region, and our investment ensures the provision of safe, reliable and high-quality services to carriers and logistics partners from day one.”

For his part, Chairman of the Silk Way Group, Zaur Akhundov, said: “Our partnership with dnata constitutes a new step in the development of the aviation industry in Azerbaijan. We are working together to build a modern system that connects the Alat Economic Free Zone to the global aviation and logistics network.”