Dubai-based air services firm dnata is lining up at least $50 million for a new cargo processing facility at Orlando International Airport, a project local officials say could land more than 400 jobs in Central Florida. The planned hub would significantly expand dnata’s presence at MCO and fits squarely into airport leaders’ push to beef up freight traffic alongside the region’s signature leisure travel business. If it gets built, the facility could pull more time-sensitive shipments through Orlando and tighten logistics links to Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
According to the Orlando Business Journal, dnata is proposing at least $50 million for the project, and officials told the outlet they expect it to create "more than 400 jobs" across the region. The paper identified dnata as the company behind the effort and reported that both local leaders and company representatives framed the hiring plans as a key piece of the project’s regional impact.
Dnata’s existing Orlando operations
Dnata is not exactly a stranger rolling into town. In February 2025 the company opened what it billed as a “Station of Tomorrow” at MCO as part of a roughly US$3 million investment that brought in electric ground-support equipment, new tech upgrades and about 50 local jobs, dnata said. That earlier project helps explain why airport leaders now see dnata as a ready-made partner for bigger cargo ambitions, since the company already handles ground services, cargo and catering across many U.S. airports.
Where the plan fits MCO’s cargo push
Airport officials have been increasingly vocal about wanting more freight in the mix as part of a broader strategy to diversify MCO beyond vacation traffic. That long game includes adding at least one new cargo processing facility, AviationPros reported. The playbook leans on growing international routes and boosting wide-body belly capacity, a combination that makes Orlando a more attractive target for global cargo handlers and integrators looking for new gateways.
Jobs and economic ripple effects
Officials have described the 400-plus jobs as a regional tally that would cover both direct hires at the facility and related supply-chain roles. Recent dnata projects offer a glimpse of how that can play out. In one example, the company announced an A$32 million cargo facility at Western Sydney International that is expected to create roughly 50 direct positions along with broader logistics jobs in the surrounding market, dnata said. That project has been held up as a model for how a purpose-built cargo terminal can spark local employment. In Orlando, roles tied to a new MCO cargo hub would likely span ramp crews, warehouse teams, customs and logistics staff and a layer of supervisory positions.
Next steps and timeline
For now, the big missing piece is the schedule. When the plan first surfaced, neither dnata nor airport officials released a firm construction timeline, and the Orlando Business Journal noted that both timing and the exact site are still to be nailed down. Key milestones to watch include any lease or ground-use agreements with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, required county permits or environmental reviews, and eventually the appearance of local job postings tied directly to the project.
If dnata’s cargo hub moves from proposal to reality, it would join a growing list of bets on freight infrastructure across Florida, a trend that could redirect more high-value, time-sensitive cargo through Orlando rather than other gateways. We will be keeping an eye on GOAA board agendas, lease filings and dnata hiring notices for signs that this $50 million play is shifting from paper plans to concrete and steel.
