Dnata Cargo, the sole operator of Dubai's air cargo terminals, has more than 1,000 employees and has diversified into various related logistics activities.

Jean Pierre L. De Pauw, Senior Vice-President, Dnata Cargo has been with the company since 1991. "We provide a broad range of products and services to meet the varied needs of more than 100 airlines operating through Dubai International Airport. We also serve around 1,000 cargo agents based in Dubai."

De Pauw is an integral part of the organisation and is assisted by a 15-member management team. He says, "As Senior Vice President, I am responsible for our diverse international air cargo operations at Dubai International Airport and Jebel Ali Free Zone."

The Dnata Cargo terminals are Dubai Cargo Village's Main Cargo Terminal (MCT) and Express Handling Centre (EHC); the Free Zone Logistic Centre (FLC) based at Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA); and the Free Zone Air Cargo Terminal (FACT) at Jebel Ali Free Zone.

De Pauw says, "These four terminals handled a combined volume of 566,915 tonnes from April 2005 to March 2006, an increase of 10 per cent or 53,536 tonnes, compared to the same period in 2004-2005."

Besides his role at Dnata, De Pauw also works with a number of related industry organisations.

He is a member of the Dubai Logistics City advisory council and the Dubai Airport Expansion Committee, a steering committee member of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, executive board member of the National Association of Freight and Logistics, chairman of Dnata-PWC Logistics and vice-chairman of FreightWorks.

"I joined Dnata Cargo as general manager of cargo operations in 1991," he says. My first major responsibility with Dnata when I arrived in 1991 was opening and developing Dubai airport's new air cargo facility, the MCT at Dubai Cargo Village. Since then, this facility has developed to handling 500,000 tonnes of air cargo in 2005, with a service delivery record ranking among the best in the industry."

He adds, "During my tenure, Dnata Cargo has played an important role in developing innovative industry initiatives that have benefited both Dubai and the local cargo industry. Among these is the FLC, now soon to complete its third and final phase of expansion, FLC III, which will more than triple annual throughput capacity, enabling the complete FLC complex to accommodate our cargo growth until 2010."

The FLC was created in response to the demands of the Russian market and regional competition in the low-cost market segment. It pioneered the concept of low-cost carrier operations at a major airport without undermining core premium services, an industry first at the time.

De Pauw says, "Other Dnata initiatives include FACT at Jebel Ali Free Zone, developed to offer Jebel Ali-based companies an off-airport cargo terminal, eliminating the need to shuttle their goods to Dubai Airport.

"On the security side, TransGuard was set up to provide a specialised service for high valuables, both air and landside, and is now the leading service provider in the cash-in-transit niche. Our FreightWorks, created by a merger of Dubai Express and Kanoo Freight Forwarding, has grown to be among the top five freight forwarders in Dubai.

"We have also developed road feeder services in the UAE with Dnata-PWC Logistics, a joint venture with PWC Logistics providing bonded transport connections between MCT, the free zones and other UAE airports, which is now expanding regionally."

Besides these initiatives, De Pauw was a pioneering member of the Dubai Quality Group and was delighted when Dnata Cargo won the Dubai Quality Award in 1998.

He says, "Our customer focus and philosophy of constant innovation means that we continually invest in equipment, information technology, personnel and training to maintain and develop our growing stature in the international air cargo business."

De Pauw adds, "During the next 12 months we will introduce an improved version of DACS+, our sophisticated electronic cargo ground handling system that improves transparency in cargo operations with better track and trace, faster shipment delivery and acceptance of delivery closer to flight times."

He adds, "A major innovation scheduled for roll-out in early 2007 is 'calogi,' our web-based customer interface portal. Linked to DACS+, calogi will be the first-ever initiative connecting ground handling agents, airlines and freight forwarders directly to the end shipper and consignee.

"Besides this, Dnata's first air cargo terminal at Dubai Logistics City in Jebel Ali is scheduled for completion at the end of 2007. This will further extend our service capabilities for customers."