Readout of Mayor Johnson's Second Day at the International Air Transport Association World Cargo Symposium
On Wednesday, Mayor Eric L. Johnson, alongside leadership from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), began the day with a high-level visit to dnata, a global air services provider and subsidiary of Emirates Group headquartered in Dubai. At DFW Airport, dnata oversees ground operations and cargo services for Emirates and other international carriers. Dnata also operates an airside Centralized Examination Station at DFW Airport, the first among US airports, and an airside cold chain facility.
Mayor Johnson was welcomed by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, for a strategic discussion on the Dallas region’s rapid growth and rising global influence.
The conversation continued with dnata’s executive leadership, including Steve Allen, Group CEO; Clive Hopkins, CEO of Airport Operations; and Syed Haris Raza, VP of Cargo for dnata USA. Key topics included dnata’s U.S. expansion strategy, with Dallas recognized as a critical hub for future investment and growth.
“Dallas is a city that thinks big, acts boldly, and leads globally," said Mayor Eric L. Johnson, "The collaboration with Emirates and dnata underscores our city’s status as a rising international hub and strengthens our commitment to expanding trade, creating jobs, and building a more connected and competitive economy.”
Later in the day, Mayor Johnson joined Badr Abbas, Division Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo, and Jeffrey Van Haeften, Senior Vice President of Cargo Commercial Worldwide, for a focused discussion on strengthening the pharmaceutical trade corridor between Dallas, Dubai, and India — a sector with high potential for bilateral economic impact.
As part of the Emirates Group, which is owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (the emirate’s sovereign wealth fund), dnata plays a pivotal role in delivering world-class ground handling and cargo logistics that underpin global airline operations.
In the afternoon, Mayor Johnson met at the Emirates Group Headquarters with Richard Jewsbury, Executive Vice President of Customer and Corporate Planning, Sami Aqil Abdulla, Senior Vice President EKAS Outstation & Business Support, and Will Lofberg, Senior Vice President of International and Government Affairs. The discussion centered on expanding future growth opportunities at DFW Airport, where Emirates currently operates seven weekly flights to Dubai — transporting over 104,000 passengers and more than 2,400 U.S. tons of cargo annually.
Throughout the day, conversations reinforced the value of strategic partnerships and set the stage for long-term economic development in Dallas.
Mayor Johnson is scheduled to leave Dubai on Thursday to return to Dallas.
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