Autonomous technology is one of the most dynamic and exciting areas of research in modern aviation. While you might typically associate this at face value with aircraft operations, it can also feature behind the scenes on more of a micro level, such as in the deployment of airside vehicles. This is something that the Dubai National Air Travel Agency ( dnata) is looking to make more widespread use of at Dubai World Central Airport (DWC).
Speaking to Simple Flying’s Managing Editor, Tom Boon, on the sidelines of the 
The Story So Far
In the middle of July this year, dnata made headlines when it announced to the world that it had rolled out an initial fleet of six autonomous electric vehicles at Dubai’s secondary 
For now, Allen told Simple Flying in Dubai last week, the tractors are unable to operate on a fully autonomous basis. However, he asserted that dnata is “very, very close now to getting the approval from the authorities to allow them to be fully autonomous.” In terms of their current operations, Allen explained that:
“We’ve still got people sitting in the vehicle, making sure that the vehicle has actually learned all the right rules, and that it’s actually following the rules of airside to keep it nice and safe.”
Developing The World’s First Autonomous Airside Operation
Given the radical nature of the autonomous technology involved, a phased introduction such as the one described above by Allen is a logical and sensible way of going about things. He explains that DWC is, after all, the home of “the world’s first live autonomous operation” when it comes to this line of work. In a statement released in July, dnata explained that the motivation behind the EZTow’s use was to expedite baggage transport.
By following a series of predefined routes between the terminal and aircraft’s parking stands at speeds of up to 15 km/h (9.3 mph), these vehicles are able to “streamline this process by towing up to four baggage containers at a time.” This relieves the workload of airside staff who, conventionally speaking, would have to have driven the baggage between the terminal and the aircraft itself under the intense time pressure of a tight turnaround.
The current operations of dnata’s autonomous electric baggage tractors at DWC is described as Level 3 autonomy, where human workers accompany the vehicles on their journeys but with minimal oversight. The full autonomous approval that Allen is eyeing is known as Level 4, and this is expected to come in early 2026. This, dnata explains, is “defined by full self-driving capabilities in controlled environments” without any human oversight.
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Allen Foresees Other Airside Vehicles Also Being Made Autonomous
All in all, dnata has big plans for its rollout of autonomous vehicles at Al Maktoum International Airport, with its initial fleet of six electric baggage tractors set to be just the tip of the iceberg. On this front, Allen told Simple Flying that “once you’ve established what the protocols are, and the technology you need to follow those protocols, it doesn’t matter what the size of the vehicle is.” As such, the concept can easily be diversified.
Allen notes that “it’s still four wheels with sensors moving around the airport infrastructure,” adding that “whether that four wheels is a bus, or it’s a high loader, or it’s a small baggage tractor, it’s still all the same technology.” Therefore, should dnata’s initial trial go to plan, with its autonomous electric baggage tractors receiving Level 4 certification by early 2026, DWC Airport visitors can expect to see wider operations in the years to come.