Teesside International Airport is set to become a global leader with self-driving vehicles transporting passengers and baggage, starting October 2025 for shuttles and January 2026 for cargo operations
Teesside International Airport is making history as it prepares to introduce self-driving vehicles for both passengers and baggage. Starting in October 2025, self-driving shuttles will transport travellers from the aircraft to the terminal, while automated tugs will handle cargo operations from January 2026, positioning the airport at the forefront of aviation innovation and inspiring future technological advancements.
Going to new heights with self-driving technology at airports
Following an agreement between the Tees Valley Combined Authority and the aviation firm Aurrigo International plc, self-driving vehicles designed to transport baggage and passengers are set to hit the roads this year. Teesside will be the only airport in the world where both self-driving cargo and passenger vehicles will be operating.
The Aurrigo eight-seater Auto-Shuttle passenger vehicle will begin trials in October, and the Auto-DollyTug, a self-driving vehicle for cargo and bags, is set to start operation from January 2026.
Auto-DollyTug is equipped with 360-degree obstacle detection and advanced situational awareness and carries a single Unit Load Device (ULD) that holds passenger baggage and cargo around airports. The self-driving vehicle utilises Aurrigo’s patented sideways drive system, meaning the vehicle can manoeuvre directly sideways into confined spaces within the baggage hall. The vehicle also has integrated robotic arms that enable the Auto-DollyTug to load and unload with precision. It is currently used in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, and at Zurich Airport in partnership with Swissport; however, this will be the first time that the Auto-DollyTug will be used alongside the Auto-Shuttle passenger vehicle.
“We’ve never integrated Auto-DollyTug® and Auto-Shuttle® airside, so Teesside will be delivering a global first,” commented David Keene MBE, CEO of Aurrigo International plc. “The latter is a fantastic way of moving passengers or ground staff over short distances on agreed routes. There is no need for a driver, freeing up members of the team for other activities, and it is completely electric.”
Airport Managing Director Phil Forster added: “It’s an absolute pleasure to see Teesside Airport hosting more world-leading technology and chalking up another UK – and global – first. To have this technology in place early next year will mean bags will travel from check-in to plane even more seamlessly, and in an even greener way.
“It will also help us shape how we move passengers around Teesside in the future – and will likely have an impact on the whole aviation industry.
“We were first in the UK to install new security scanners to allow passengers to keep liquids and electronics in bags, and now we’re leading the world in driverless cargo and bag systems with Aurrigo.”
Shaping the future of airports at the Connected Autonomous Mobility Test Centre
The Connected Autonomous Mobility (CAM) Test Centre at Teesside International Airport is a groundbreaking facility dedicated to testing and developing self-driving vehicle technology in a real-world airport environment. Located on the airport campus, the centre provides a collaborative space for innovators like Aurrigo International plc to trial cutting-edge systems designed to transform airport operations.
“We are really excited to bring our autonomous technology to the North East,” commented David Keene MBE, CEO of Aurrigo International plc. “Our Auto-Shuttle® and Auto-DollyTug®s are being deployed all across the world, but this will be the first time that we have integrated them together at a live airport… it’s a real sign of intent from Teesside International Airport and the Tees Valley Combined Authority.”
He continued: “There is no escaping the fact that the aviation world is accelerating its desire to reduce its environmental impact in line with Net Zero guidelines. Our driverless vehicles present a real-world ‘ready’ opportunity to not only take a significant amount of carbon out of operations but also boost the speed and efficiency with which you can move passengers and bags airside in the process.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Teesside is turning heads once again and showing the world how it’s done.
“This is another massive first for our airport, our region, and our people – proving once again that where Teesside leads, the world follows.
“Being first matters. It means jobs, investment, and putting us firmly on the global map for cutting-edge innovation.
“These vehicles arriving in just a couple of months are a huge boost – and I’m excited to see them serving holidaymakers on our year-round flights in the New Year.”
