Aurrigo has signed its first agreement in the North East of England, partnering with Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) in a 0.9 million GBP project at Teesside International Airport.
The collaboration will introduce an autonomous baggage and passenger transport system aimed at improving operational efficiency, reducing emissions, and enhancing passenger movement.
From mid-October 2025, Aurrigo’s eight-seat Auto-Shuttle® will begin carrying passengers from aircraft steps to the terminal building. In January 2026, the company plans to also deploy the Auto-DollyTug®, a fully driverless vehicle designed to move baggage and cargo around the airport.
Initial trials will take place landside at the new Connected Autonomous Mobility Test Centre, located within the airport campus. The vehicles will undergo a testing programme before moving into airside operations early next year. The trials will include integration into bulk baggage handling, enabling the transport of luggage directly to aircraft loading teams.
David Keene MBE, CEO of Aurrigo International plc said:We are really excited to bring our autonomous technology to the North East. 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.
The Auto-DollyTug® is fitted with 360-degree obstacle detection and situational awareness technology. It can carry a single unit load device (ULD) containing baggage or cargo and features Aurrigo’s sideways drive system, allowing it to manoeuvre in confined spaces. It is also capable of tank-turn movements and can autonomously load and unload ULDs using integrated robotic arms.
The vehicle is already in use at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, and Zurich Airport in collaboration with Swissport.
