Thomas Yu rejoins dnata as Divisional Vice President, Cargo UAE

Thomas Yu has rejoined dnata as Divisional Vice President, Cargo UAE, effective October 2025. He will lead the company’s cargo business operations across Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Yu will oversee revenue generation, hub development, and the implementation of dnata’s global cargo strategy, with a focus on digital transformation, safety compliance, and product innovation.

Yu announced his return in a LinkedIn post, stating that he was excited to be back with dnata after nearly six years at Cainiao Group. During his time with Cainiao, Yu led global hub operations and product development, working across continents to build teams and launch logistics hubs. His experience there, he said, shaped his leadership approach and broadened his perspective on customer service and innovation.

Back in Dubai, Yu said his first week at dnata included attending the company’s Annual Leaders Forum, where senior executives discussed strategy and recent achievements. He expressed gratitude to Guillaume Crozier, Chief Cargo Officer at dnata, for building a strong foundation for the cargo division. Yu added that he looked forward to collaborating with colleagues and partners to drive future growth.

In his new role, Yu will contribute to dnata’s transition readiness for the Dubai AMI Project and the development of DWC as a major cargo hub. He will also oversee infrastructure projects aimed at long-term scalability and operational efficiency. His focus will include aligning dnata’s cargo standards and ensuring regulatory compliance through Safety Management Systems.

Bharat Bhatia

In a related development, dnata has also welcomed back Bharat Bhatia as Head of Cargo Operations. Bhatia rejoined the company in June 2025 after three years at WestJet Cargo in Canada, where he served as Head of Cargo Operations. He had previously worked with dnata for 18 years in various leadership roles across operations control, business improvement, and airport services. At dnata, he is now based at DWC and is responsible for managing cargo operations, driving process improvement, and ensuring efficiency across the network.

Crozier welcomed Yu in a comment on his post, saying, “Great to have you with us, Thomas; together we will rock it.” Yu’s appointment, along with Bhatia’s return, reflects dnata’s ongoing focus on strengthening its leadership team to support its cargo operations and future growth plans.

Yu previously served as Head of Commercial for dnata’s International Airport Operations from 2017 to 2019. His earlier career included roles at Cathay Pacific Services Ltd and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited, where he managed business development, operations planning, and customer relations in the cargo and logistics sector.