Emirates SkyCargo and LODD Autonomous, a leading transportation, logistics, supply chain and storage company, has signed a MoU at the 2025 Dubai Airshow to explore the development and deployment of next-generation air cargo solutions.
Under the terms of the agreement, Emirates SkyCargo and LODD Autonomous will collaborate to validate the use of VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft across the airline’s vast global network, through feasibility studies, regulatory engagement and live demonstrations.
Leveraging over four decades’ expertise in the global movement of goods, Emirates SkyCargo will participate in LODD’s experimental operations through to the end of 2027, providing insight to inform design and development, with a view toward commercial deployment in regional and global markets.
"This partnership with LODD is a reflection of our commitment to introducing innovative products that solve our customers’ transportation challenges," remarked Badr Abbas, the Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President, after signing the deal with Rashid Al Manai, the Chief Executive Officer of LODD Autonomous.
"Emerging technologies will form the foundation of the next era of logistics, and Emirates SkyCargo will be at the forefront of this movement, investing our experience and expertise into the development of innovations that drive tangible impact," he stated.
The agreement follows last week’s successful first test flight of LODD’s Hili, an unmanned, hybrid heavy-lift cargo aircraft developed and manufactured in Abu Dhabi.
Hili is fully autonomous from take-off to landing, and offers a payload capacity of up to 250 km and travel distances up to 700 km.
Al Manai said: "Together, we will accelerate the adoption of drone-powered solutions that expand reach, cut delivery times, and strengthen the UAE’s position as a global logistics hub while upholding the highest standards of safety and regulatory excellence."
An Abu Dhabi-based company, LODD Autonomous is revolutionising civilian logistics by utilising automation, autonomous vehicles, and artificial intelligence.-TradeArabia News Service
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