Dronamics eyes global expansion with Qatar interline deal

London-based Dronamics has signed a milestone interline deal with Qatar Airways Cargo — the first between a cargo drone operator and a conventional air cargo carrier.

The agreement will enable the first cargo drone airline to extend cargo services from its hub in Athens, Greece, to global destinations in Qatar’s network, Dronamics told Air Cargo Next sister publication Cargo Facts . Qatar Airways will gain access to remote and underserved locations in Dronamics’ network.

[caption id="attachment_56866222" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] (Photo/Dronamics)[/caption] The deal allows the two companies to expand their networks, Dronamics said, adding that it plans to extend its drone routes into the Mediterranean, United Arab Emirates and Australia.

“For the first time ever, traditional airfreight will be able to reach remote … destinations by cargo drone,” a Dronamics spokesperson told Air Cargo Next . And “customers from remote locations will be able to send their goods to the world’s main hubs, with single booking, thanks to the extension of Dronamics’ network with Qatar’s. The potential for the seamless flow of goods is enormous, especially for businesses and communities that currently have restricted access because of location.”

Dronamics, founded in 2014, expects to begin operations from its droneport in Athens by early 2024, according to a joint release.

“We are seeing huge interest from established and regional airports who want to sign up as droneport partners, validating our smart cargo mobility solution,” the Dronamics spokesperson told Air Cargo Next . “We have already signed 66 airports globally — 42 of which [are] in Europe. The first droneports are being set up in Greece as our launch market.”

The drone manufacturer and operator this year became the first cargo drone airline to obtain designator codes from IATA and the International Civil Aviation Organization , enabling the company to issue air waybills with its airline partners, according to the release.

The new agreement is part of Qatar Airways’ VISION 2027 five-year strategy to implement new technology and support startup companies with ambitious business models, Elisabeth Oudkerk , senior vice president of cargo sales and network planning at the airline, said in the release.

Qatar Airways ranks No. 3 on Air Cargo Next ’s Freight 50 list of the top cargo carriers, flying 14.3 cargo tonne kilometers in 2022.

Dronamics expands ops At the recent Dubai Airshow, Dronamics finalized terms with the UAE-based Strategic Development Fund (SDF) to form a joint venture and build a full-scale production facility for its Black Swan cargo drone. SDF, Dronamics’ largest investor, expects the facility to become operational in 2025 and build up to 300 Black Swan drones annually.

The Black Swan completed its first test flight in May after making its debut on Dec. 7, 2021, at an event in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Dronamics also announced at the Dubai Airshow that it had reached a deal, facilitated by SDF, with UAE-based logistics company Aramex to explore same-day cargo drone delivery operations globally.

Dronamics last month signed a letter of intent with domestic delivery service provider Emirates Post Group to provide same-day, middle-mile and long-range delivery services. Dronamics also announced this month that it will collaborate with Hellenic Post to provide middle-mile deliveries for Greece’s national postal service from the mainland to the country’s more than 300 inhabited islands.

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