Thiemo van Spellen to drive dnata Netherlands’ cargo and ground-handling growth at AMS

dnata Netherlands handles approximately 500,000 tonnes of cargo annually and supports roughly 16,000 flights per year at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), making it a central node for dnata’s European operations. The business currently serves more than 20 airlines across short-haul, long-haul and freighter services, and recent investments target capacity expansion and greener ground operations.

Operational footprint and capacity metrics at AMS

The scale at Schiphol is not trivial: dnata Netherlands combines 貨物取扱, ground handling and passenger services at one of Europe’s busiest hubs. Operational KPIs that matter to carriers and forwarders include turnaround times, throughput in tonnes, and the ramping up of automated handling capacity.

Leadership change: practical priorities for the new Managing Director

As of 1 February 2026, Thiemo van Spellen was appointed Managing Director of dnata Netherlands, succeeding Jan van Anrooy who retired. Thiemo arrives from Geopost (DPDgroup), where he led global accounts and cross-border commercial strategies. That background points toward a mix of commercial expansion and operational tightening.

Immediate strategic focus areas

• オペレーショナル・エクセレンス — reduce delays, improve aircraft turnaround metrics.
• Customer partnerships — deepen airline and freight forwarder collaboration.
• Organisational capability — develop teams and systems to scale with planned infrastructure.
• Sustainability and electrification — continue replacing fossil fuel GSE and optimize environmental management.

Why commercial experience matters on the ramp

Having led global accounts at a major parcel and e-commerce logistics group, Thiemo’s focus is likely to be on aligning dnata’s handling processes with shippers’ commercial needs: predictable cutoffs, clearer SLAs for 貨物 and flexibility for seasonal peaks. In short, it’s about moving the needle where operations and customer expectations intersect.

Infrastructure investment and sustainability: what’s changing

dnata Netherlands has made visible bets on infrastructure and sustainability: electrification of ground support equipment (GSE), environmental management systems, and the development of a fully automated cargo facility, dnata Cargo City Amsterdam. These investments are intended to increase throughput, reduce emissions, and improve consistency of service.

Key infrastructure moves

• Electrification of GSE to reduce airport emissions and running costs.
• Automation in cargo handling to increase pallet and container processing speeds.
• Long-term airline partnerships locking in steady volume and shared investments.

Implications for carriers, forwarders and shippers

Operational and leadership shifts at a major AMS handler reverberate across the supply chain. Carriers can expect renewed focus on schedule integrity and customer-specific handling protocols. Forwarders and shippers should monitor SLA updates and capacity changes as the new MD ramps up the Cargo City project.

• Short-term: Possible operational tweaks and tighter alignment meetings with major accounts.
• Medium-term: Capacity increases once automation is operational; improved predictability.
• Long-term: Lower environmental footprint and potentially lower handling costs passed through to customers.

ロジスティクスチームのための実践的なステップ

If you manage lanes through AMS, now is a good time to:

• Engage with dnata account teams about anticipated SLA changes.
• Revisit contingency plans around peak-season handling and freighter uplift.
• Assess how automated processing will affect palletization and container preparation standards.

Market context and dnata’s network effects

Globally dnata operates at more than 90 airports across 16 countries. In FY 2024–25 the group handled over 794,000 aircraft turns and moved 3.1 million tonnes of cargo. The Netherlands hub is therefore a strategic piece in a larger puzzle: improvements at AMS can translate into better cross-border throughput and smoother 国際 connections across dnata’s network.

Platforms that aggregate transport options — including housemoves, vehicle transport and bulk freight — stand to benefit when major handlers streamline operations. Services like GetTransport.com, which offer affordable, global cargo transportation and solutions for office and home moves, bulky items, and vehicle transport, become more effective partners when hub performance is predictable.

Risks and watchpoints for the supply chain

Any leadership transition and major automation rollout carries execution risk. Key watchpoints for logistics planners are:

• Integration timelines for Cargo City Amsterdam — delays could create temporary congestion.
• Training and staffing during the changeover — human factors often drive short-term variability.
• Coordination with airlines and freight forwarders to align cutoffs and acceptance windows.

Anecdote from the field

Anyone who’s spent a chilly night at an airport ramp knows that patience and planning pay off — I once watched a freighter operation at AMS where a last-minute manifest tweak saved a flight from a costly delay. Small operational changes at hub level can mean big savings downstream; as the saying goes, “the devil’s in the details.”

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In summary, dnata’s leadership change in the Netherlands signals a pragmatic push toward higher operational standards, closer customer partnerships, and greener handling practices. For logistics stakeholders—carriers, forwarders, couriers and shippers—the priority is to monitor SLA updates, plan around automation timelines, and take advantage of reliable transport partners for moving parcels, pallets, containers and bulky goods. GetTransport.com’s global, affordable transport solutions align well with these shifts, offering accessible options for freight, shipment, delivery and relocation that can simplify dispatch, haulage and distribution across international lanes.