dnata Catering & Retail is expanding its advanced facility at Melbourne Airport (MEL) with a $50 million investment to strengthen its position as Australia's leading inflight caterer. The construction, which will add 5,700m² to the existing facility, is scheduled for completion by September 2026.
Hiranjan Aloysius, dnata Catering & Retail’s Regional CEO for Asia Pacific, highlighted the importance of this expansion in meeting the increasing demand for their services. Currently serving 20 airline customers in Melbourne with a team of 1,000 employees, dnata provides dining experiences on over 60,000 flights annually.
The company uplifted more than 50 million meals for 300,000 flights in the financial year 2023-24. dnata's catering and retail division is recognized globally for its inflight hospitality services and has invested over $200 million in local Australian products in 2024.
With operations at nine airports in Australia, dnata caters to over 40 airline customers with a team of over 4,000 hospitality professionals. The expansion in Melbourne will enhance dnata's ability to offer innovative catering and retail solutions to its growing customer base.
Jai McDermott, Melbourne Airport Chief of Ground Transport, Property, and Retail, emphasized the significance of this project in strengthening the partnership between dnata and Melbourne Airport. He stated that the development will streamline dnata's operations at the airport and support existing airlines while preparing for future growth.
dnata's expansion in Melbourne aligns with its commitment to continuously improve its services in Australia. The company's planned $80 million investment in infrastructure is anticipated to create over 300 direct jobs and stimulate growth in associated sectors by partnering with local suppliers. This expansion will establish dnata as the largest airline catering center in Victoria, capable of producing 25 million meals annually.
