Etihad Cargo and Lodd Autonomous have agreed to trial the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for parcel and cargo deliveries between logistics hubs and warehouses across the UAE.
The partnership will explore the integration of Lodd’s ‘Hili’ hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft into Etihad Cargo’s UAE operations.
A trial will test the efficiency, safety and ground logistics compatibility of the UAVs, and explore the operational and commercial potential of integrating them into Etihad’s future fleet.
With a payload capacity of 250kg and a range of more than 700km, the aircraft can transport high-value shipments across a wide range of terrains and conditions.
Additionally, as Hili removes the need for runways and traditional airport infrastructure, the UAV could “cut delivery times by hours or even days”.
Stanislas Brun, chief cargo officer of Etihad Airways, said: “As a fellow Abu Dhabi-based company, Lodd Services shares Etihad Cargo’s ambition to transform the future of air mobility.”
“Together with Lodd Autonomous, we hope to open up new possibilities for air cargo, creating smarter, faster, and more sustainable ways to move goods across the country.”
Lodd’s chief executive office, Rashid Al Manai said that the system could be especially useful for shipping medicines or industrial goods.
“By creating direct air corridors between logistic hubs and warehouses, it enables seamless and rapid transfers. This is especially important for high-value, time-sensitive shipments such as pharmaceuticals and industrial components, where even minor delays can disrupt operations and lead to substantial financial losses,” Al Manai said.
Etihad added that the partnership “marks an exciting new chapter” and has the potential to unlock efficiencies that could transform middle-mile logistics across the UAE.
