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Dnata gets top airport handling accreditation

DUBAI - Airline customers of Dnata Airport Operations, the ground handler at Dubai International Airport, now have the option to agree procedures with Dnata that precisely meet their individual needs.

This follows Dnata's recent accreditation to AHS (Airport Handling Standards) 1000, a quality standard that is IATA-approved and recognised worldwide by the handling community. John Bustard, Managing Director of AHS1000, presented the certificate to Ismail Ali Al Banna, Director, Dnata Airport Services, following an intensive training and implementation procedure.

For airlines, the advantage of AHS1000 is that it adopts a partnership approach between a carrier and the ground handler. Performance targets are agreed by both according to the specific requirements of the airline. In addition to meeting customer needs, targets must be relevant, realistic, challenging, achievable and measurable.

Tom Lewis, Senior General Manager, Dnata Airport Operations, said: "This industry-specific-standard enables the service provider to measure performance against standards agreed with each airline customer. The basic principle of the AHS performance measurement system is to capture service failures rather than record every activity in a traditional time-and-motion style. So the focus is on providing for continuous, long-term improvement."

For Dnata, AHS1000 accreditation is part of an ongoing process to achieve service excellence. It integrates perfectly with Dnata's already achieved ISO 9001 certification. ISO is concerned with internal organisation; AHS looks to the airline customers and determines what they require.

Mr Lewis said: "Our intention is to implement all best practices as part of achieving the Business Excellence model. Consistent with this, implementation of the environmental standard ISO14001 is currently under way."

Led by Khalid Al Jowder, Manager Quality Planning and his team, Dnata identified 35 standards in six main areas of accountability in handling aircraft turnaround. The first wave of carriers participating included KLM, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Iran Aseman Airlines.

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