Dnata

Dubai National Air Travel Agency (commonly known as dnata) is an Emirati airport services provider which provides aircraft ground handling, cargo, travel, and flight catering services across five continents.

History

The company dnata was established 1959 in Dubai with five employees. The name originates as an acronym for Dubai National Air Travel Agency. The company has grown significantly with the first international expansion seen in 1993.[2]

In 2008, the company acquired a 23 percent share in the travel company Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) and a 49 percent share of the global outsource provider Mind Pearl.

In 2010, dnata acquired Alpha Flight Limited, expanding the company to cover 62 airports in 12 countries. The next year, the company opened offices in India, offering air travel, hotel, and visa services for travellers between India and Dubai.[3][4]

Travel Republic

Travel Republic Limited is an online travel agency founded in the United Kingdom and launched in 2003. Travel Republic is owned by the air services provider, dnata World Travel, which is a part of the Emirates Group.[17]

History

Travel Republic was founded in 2003 by university students Chris Waite, Paul Furner, Kane Pirie[18] and travel agent Peter Furner.[19] They desired to create a website where customers could book accommodation, flights, car transfers and airport parking in one place. The company specialises in enabling users to build their own holiday experience by combining different elements from the Travel Republic site.[20][21]

Travel Republic is a travel search website acting as an agent only. The company is a member of ABTA[22] and holds an ATOL License.[23]

In January 2007, the company moved to its current headquarters in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. In the same year the company had an annual sales growth of 284.2% and topped the charts of The Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100.[24]

In December 2011 the company was bought by Dnata World Travel which is a subsidiary of the Emirates Group, based in Dubai.[25]

In December 2015 Travel Republic launched a cruise service in partnership with Imagine Cruising.[26]

In July 2018 Dnata appointed Frank Rejwan (formerly of Abercrombie & Kent, Quintessentially and Ickenham Travel Group) as Managing Director for Travel Republic.[27]

Operations and technology

In January 2012, Travel Republic first introduced its mobile website, before expanding into mobile app on IOS in 2014. In 2015 the Android version of the app was launched.

The company aired its first YouTube ad on 17 January 2011.[28] Their first television campaign 'The Last Click' aired in June 2014.[29] With its success, Travel Republic continued to launch TV advertising campaigns. 'Welcome to the Travel Republic' was launched in January 2016[30] before the latest campaign aired in December 2016 across UK and Ireland.[31] The campaign highlighted Travel Republic's slogan, 'Yours for the making'.

Controversy

In a case brought by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Travel Republic was accused of breaching ATOL regulations by selling unlicensed package holidays. Judge Nicholas Evans delivered the not-guilty verdict at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 10 November 2009.[32] In his judgement, Evans said the prosecution had failed to prove that Travel Republic did anything other than "sell components of holidays separately, but at the same time".[33][34]

Sale to Destinia

On 20 January 2026, the Travel Republic brand was sold by dnata Travel Group to the Spanish online travel agency Destinia Travel Group.[35] The acquisition formed part of Destinia’s strategy to expand into the UK travel market and included both the Travel Republic and Netflights consumer brands.

The sale followed a strategic review by dnata, which had announced plans to wind down the two UK-based brands. Destinia stated that it intended to continue operating Travel Republic under its existing brand identity, integrating it into Destinia’s technology and operational platform while maintaining continuity for customers. The acquisition provided Destinia with an established presence in the UK online travel sector as part of its wider international expansion strategy.

type	State-owned, Private
foundation	1959 Dubai‡R1R‡
founder	‡R1R‡
location city	Dubai
location country	United Arab Emirates
location	Emirates Group Headquarters, Al Garhoud
key people	Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (Chairman & CEO) Steve Allen (Executive Vice President)
area served	84 countries‡R1R‡
industry	Ground Handling Industry
products	Aviation Services
parent	The Emirates Group
owner	Investment Corporation of Dubai
homepage	http://dnata.com

History

Controversy

Ground handling

IT services

Cargo

Travel

Flight catering

Travel Republic

History

Operations and technology

Controversy

Sale to Destinia

See also

References