dnata, a provider of aviation and travel services, has launched a fleet of autonomous vehicles at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport.
Currently, dnata operates six electric self-driving tugs of the “EZTow” model, developed by TractEasy, at Al Maktoum International Airport. These vehicles are utilized for transporting luggage between passenger terminals and aircraft, capable of towing up to four luggage containers at speeds of up to 15 kilometers per hour along pre-defined routes.
As these vehicles gradually integrate into daily operations, staff previously operating manual tugs will be reassigned to more complex and value-added tasks. This transition aims to expedite luggage delivery, enhance overall efficiency, and reduce human error, thereby improving safety levels in the airport’s grounds.
dnata initiated this project with a budget of 6 million dirhams (approximately 1.6 million dollars), starting at level three of automation, which entails limited human oversight. By early 2026, the company plans to upgrade to level four autonomy, characterized by full self-driving capabilities in controlled environments.
This launch follows over a year of collaboration between dnata, TractEasy, Dubai Airports, and the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority to establish a new regulatory framework for operating autonomous vehicles in the airport environment, which still lacks clear global standards.
dnata intends to utilize this project to test and refine various operational models for autonomous ground handling, aiming to identify the most suitable framework for broader application, particularly as Al Maktoum International Airport expands, anticipated to become the world’s largest airport with a capacity of 260 million passengers and 12 million tons of cargo annually.
Jafar Dawood, Senior Vice President of UAE Airport Operations at dnata, stated that automation could play a crucial role in establishing smarter, safer, and more flexible infrastructure, especially amid growing global travel demand and increasing operational requirements.
Rich Renaud, CEO of TractEasy, emphasized the rising interest in adopting autonomous ground support equipment and noted that the partnership with dnata paves the way for a safer and more efficient future.