SECOND DAY


AIR CARG O WEEK DAILY NEWS WEDNESDAY • 5TH NOVEMBER 2025 Abu Dhabi positions ...


The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) opened the Air Cargo Forum (ACF) 2025 in Abu Dhabi, with a packed plenary that outlined the ...


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tihad Cargo has signed an agreement with LODD Autonomous to test the use of hybrid vertical take-off and landing aircraft for short-range freight movements across the UAE. The ‘Hili’ aircraft has a payload of 250


kilograms and a range of more than 700 kilometres, and is being positioned as a means of enabling warehouse- to-warehouse air transport without reliance on airport infrastructure or road transfers. The collaboration will focus on operational testing,


regulatory framework development, and assessment of commercial viability for time-critical supply chains.


Hybrid VTOL integration The partnership aims to complement Etihad Cargo’s existing network with an additional layer of flexible short-range capacity. Rashid Al Manai, Chief Executive of LODD


Autonomous, described the agreement as a step toward


demonstrating real-world application of


autonomous freight aviation, saying it is “a major milestone for the industry” and that it represents “a national innovation milestone here in the UAE.” “It is an honour to sign the MOU with LODD” and that


the aircraft “will generate value for trade when we look at sustainability and efficiency, which is what we are focused on,” Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer of Etihad Airways, stated.


Pharma in the spotlight The initial focus includes pharmaceuticals, medical supplies,


laboratory samples, and other high-value


consignments requiring rapid movement. Brun highlighted pharmaceuticals as an early use case, stating: “I see all the pharma and life science cargo we carry to and from the UAE. Abu Dhabi is a pharma


SCAN HERE TO RECEIVE ACW DIGITAL


corridor, and there is a need to provide solutions to move samples and treatments quickly.” “With this solution, you connect warehouse to


warehouse directly,” Al Manai noted. “With this capability, companies like Etihad Cargo would be able to offer same-day delivery rather than next-day delivery.”


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ETIHAD CARGO AND LODD TO STREAMLINE THE FUTURE OF MIDDLE-MILE DELIVERY


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