LONDON, UK: Aurrigo International plc has signed a formal partnership agreement with International Airlines Group (IAG), for the deployment and demonstration of Aurrigo’s autonomous aviation solutions within the UK.
The partnership is expected to follow a similar phasing to Aurrigo’s ongoing agreement with Changi Airport Group in Singapore, with an evaluation and simulation phase to commence in October 2023 and then run for four months, followed by a demonstration phase and an initial deployment.
It is the Board’s expectation that this will then lead to the likely deployment of a small fleet during H1 2025. It will involve the Auto-DollyTug baggage vehicle, the Auto-Cargo air-freight vehicle and Aurrigo’s Auto-Sim aviation operations simulation software.
The first project and deployment of Aurrigo’s vehicles under the trial programme, which will be undertaken at a large UK airport, will be valued at £0.25 million . In addition, the companies will work together to explore further opportunities to integrate Aurrigo’s autonomous solutions.
David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, said: “This Partnership with one of the world’s largest airline groups is a great endorsement of the capabilities of our technology and the potential of automation to improve efficiencies and solve the challenges facing modern aviation.
Jorge Saco, Chief Information, Procurement, Services, and Innovation Officer at IAG, added: “IAG is dedicated to supporting innovation which can transform aviation efficiencies and improve ground operations. Automation at airports is a key focus for us and having assessed our options we are pleased to be working with Aurrigo.
“We first trialled the prototype Auto-Dolly in 2019 and after revisiting it post-Covid, we were impressed by how far their vehicle capabilities have progressed. We look forward to this technology helping to build our leadership position in aviation automation”.
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