News / Cargo backlog cleared after teething troubles at new Schiphol hub

Air cargo handler dnata is seeing an improvement after the “operational challenges and service disruptions” that followed its move into a new $70m state-of-the-art centre at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport this summer.

“The resulting cargo backlog has been cleared and customers have been advised that shipments are ready for collection,” a spokesperson for the Dubai-based operator told The Loadstar today.

“We are also seeing improvements in our import and export processing times, as well as truck dwell times. 

“We continue to work closely with our partners to complete the transition and bring the new facility to full operational capacity as quickly and efficiently as possible. We are enhancing systems and processes and deploying additional staff from our international network to support stabilisation and performance. We remain confident the new facility will soon operate at full potential as one of the most advanced cargo hubs in the region.” the spokesperson added.

The problems at Cargo City Amsterdam appear to have focused on malfunctions in its digital capabilities, causing a backlog in shipment processing that led to airlines and forwarders turning to to other handlers like Swissport , Menzies, and WFS.

The new cargo centre was designed to handle over 850,000 tonnes annually with a highly automated handling system.

It has been  difficult to get a clear idea of the scale of disruption to cargo traffic at Schiphol, but Maarten van As, director of Dutch trade body Air Cargo Netherlands (ACN), told The Loadstar the.impact on its members had been “significant”.

“Our aim has been to limit the damage in terms of the image of Schiphol as an air freight hub and on our members, of which dnata is one. We have done this by actively engaging in discussions with dnata and the airport authority about temporary solutions and how we can help them [dnata] relieve the pressure on their processes.

“This is sometimes quite difficult in a situation where the stakes are high for all involved. But it is a strong point of the Schiphol air freight community that they know how to find each other when necessary to solve problems together.”

An operational update last week noted that Cargo City had continued to handle shipments for around 20 carriers, but three, Emirates, China Cargo Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines, were remaining at dnata’s former cargo terminal until further notice. And also last week, Singapore Airlines moved its import cargo from dnata to Swissport, on a temporary basis.