Dubai buys cargo operations at Manchester Airport

A Manchester Airport cargo business is being taken over by the Dubai government’s investment arm in a £15m deal.

The current operator, the Go-Ahead Group, has confirmed the sale of parts of its business to Dnata which is owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai.

This is an investment vehicle which holds the Emirates airline and stakes in Dubai banks and utilities. It is not connected to Dubai World the government conglomerate that is struggling with repayments on debts of around £60bn.

Go-Ahead said Dnata was buying 100% of its Plane Handling business which runs cargo operations at Manchester and Heathrow.

It is also selling its ground handling business, that runs operations at 11 UK airports including Manchester, to Servisair, headquartered in France.

Go-Ahead said it will retain a “small number of activities at Heathrow” and its parking business, Meteor.

Keith Ludeman, group chief executive, said: “We are pleased to be selling these operations to two highly respected companies whose core businesses include aviation ground handling and cargo.

“We will be spending the next two months working closely with Dnata, Servisair and our customers and employees to maintain a high quality of service and ensure a smooth transition at the end of January.”