SATS, a top air cargo and ground handling company, has launched the first phase of a new integrated transport service at Singapore’s Changi air freight center using autonomous cargo vehicles (ACVs) to move shipments without relying on traditional truck-and-driver schedules.
The new service will move cargo autonomously between SATS airfreight terminals and warehouses of freight forwarders in the Free Trade Zone. Developed for freight forwarders and cargo agents, the solution is being tested and validated under live operating conditions as SATS works toward full deployment.
During the first stage pilot the ACVs were able to carry cargo loads of up to 800 kg. The vehicles are 100% electric and are designed to automate routine point-to-point moves between SATS Airfreight Terminals and participating freight forwarders’ warehouses.
And if the demand increases, so can the system. The operation can be scaled to higher-capacity ACV models capable of carrying up to 1,500 kg, SATS said. The company also believes the autonomous transport service has the potential to run 24 hours a day, further increasing its capacity and flexibility.
The service should make freight forwarders less reliant on truck availability and driver schedules by providing for on-demand cargo transfers. This helps expedite the collection and delivery of cargo so that consignees can receive their shipments faster.
Henry Low, chief executive officer of SATS SG Hub, said autonomous transportation is a chance to re-imagine how routine cargo movements are managed across the airport environment.
“Autonomous transportation allows us to change the way we think about the movement of cargo through the airport ecosystem, from routine movements to an on-demand, scalable model. Embedding it in our operations will unlock capacity, build resilience and enhance the capabilities of our people whilst delivering increased speed and reliability to our customers. “This is how we are building a more intelligent and responsive Singapore air cargo hub for the future,” said Mr Low.
The deployment has been carried out in close collaboration with Changi Airport Group. SATS has partnered with Changi Airport Group to deploy and validate the ACVs within the airport’s existing autonomous vehicle operational and safety framework.
The partnership aims to develop a controlled environment for the testing of emerging technology and gradual integration into live cargo operations without compromising the safety and operational standards of the Changi air cargo ecosystem.
The vehicles’ all-electric design is also part of SATS’ wider push toward more sustainable cargo transportation within the airport environment.
The SATS Singapore Hub launched the Hub Handler of the Future program in October 2025, which includes the autonomous cargo vehicle initiative. The program will bring together people, technology and new operating models to drive up capacity, enhance visibility and increase operational resilience throughout hub operations.
As the ACV service goes through live validation, SATS is putting forward autonomous transport as yet another building block in its larger drive to build a faster, more responsive and ever more resilient air cargo operation at Changi.
