Dubai: dnata, one of the world’s leading air and travel services providers, has announced the deployment of a fleet of autonomous vehicles at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), marking a major milestone in the region’s aviation ground handling sector.
The new fleet includes six EZTow electric self-driving tractors developed by TractEasy, each capable of towing up to four baggage containers (ULDs) at speeds of 15 km/h along pre-programmed airside routes. The AED 6 million ($1.6 million) initiative aims to streamline ramp operations, boost aircraft turnaround efficiency, and reduce the potential for human error in one of aviation’s most labor-intensive areas.
Jaffar Dawood, Divisional Senior Vice President for UAE Airport Operations at dnata, described the rollout as a significant industry advancement. “This is an important step forward for both dnata and the wider aviation industry. While autonomous vehicles have largely remained in the trial stage, this deployment brings them into live, day-to-day operations,” Dawood said.
The autonomous tractors currently operate with Level 3 autonomy, meaning minimal human oversight is required. dnata plans to upgrade to Level 4 capabilities by early 2026, which will allow the vehicles to run entirely self-driven within controlled airside environments.
Rich Reno, CEO of TractEasy, added, “Autonomous GSE adoption is gaining momentum worldwide. TractEasy is proud to support dnata in pioneering safe and efficient autonomous operations for the industry to follow.”
The move supports dnata’s broader innovation roadmap, which includes the successful trial of autonomous drones in its warehouses to improve shipment processing and tracking.
Implemented in collaboration with TractEasy, Dubai Airports, and the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the project serves as a real-world testbed to refine operating models and shape new regulatory frameworks for autonomous vehicles on airport ramps — an area still largely unregulated globally.
As DWC undergoes a major expansion to become the world’s largest airport, handling up to 260 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo annually, dnata’s investment in automation reinforces the UAE’s leadership in next-generation airport infrastructure and sustainable aviation operations.
According to IATA, autonomous ground support equipment is being trialled in more than 15 countries. dnata’s live deployment positions the UAE among the few global leaders moving this technology from concept to reality at scale.
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