Dronamics to offer drone delivery for Aramex

Sofia, Bulgaria-based cargo drone airline Dronamics announced today that it will provide capacity to Dubai-based logistics, courier and package delivery company Aramex to support same-day, middle-mile and long-range deliveries.

The companies signed a letter of intent to “explore joint deployment opportunities in the United Arab Emirates initially, followed by other key markets including South Africa and Australia,” according to a release from Dronamics.

[caption id="attachment_57139206" align="alignright" width="300"] Alaa Saoudi, left, Aramex chief operating officer of express management, and Svilen Rangelov, co-founder and CEO of Dronamics, shake hands in front of the full-scale exhibition model Black Swan at Dubai Airshow 2023. (Photo/Dronamics)[/caption] Dronamics will conduct the deliveries with its Black Swan drones, which can carry a payload of 350 kilograms for 2,500 kilometers. The drones require only 400 meters to land and take off, according to the release. The Black Swan is a 16-meter wingspan, 8-meter fuselage, fixed-wing aircraft, a Dronamics spokesperson told Air Cargo Next . Dronamics does not have a fixed number for drones it will fly for Aramex.

“The capacity for Aramex will be demand-based once we start operations with them,” the spokesperson said. “Proof of concept flights [are] expected to start in mid/late 2024.”

While Dronamics declined to disclose how much money the deal is worth, the spokesperson said the collaboration is significant as Aramex moves 100 million parcels annually.

The Black Swan “can offer up to 80% faster, 50% cheaper and 60% lower in CO2 emissions freight compared to traditional transport services,” according to the release. The spokesperson said this conclusion regarding lower carbon dioxide emissions is supported by a study conducted by consulting firm Oliver Wyman .

The reduced emissions are “due to the aircraft’s design, engineered for low fuel consumption — similar to that of a small car — plus the fact it can connect point-to-point, smaller tier airports and airfields, closer to businesses and consumers, versus hub-and-spoke model, reducing the total distance and time traveled by cargo,” the spokesperson said.

Aramex did not respond to a request for comment, but Global Innovation Director Angad Singh said in the release, “This partnership with Dronamics adds a new element to our Future [Delivery] Program. We hope to pilot flights with Dronamics in 2024, partnering with the broader ecosystem of regulators and enablers.”

SDF invests in Dronamics The collaboration was facilitated by Dronamics and the United Arab Emirates’ Strategic Development Fund (SDF) agreeing to a joint venture to produce Black Swan drones, marking the first serial production plant for the Black Swan, according to a second Dronamics release from today.

SDF invested in Dronamics in late 2022 and is its largest investor to date, according to the release.

The facility created by the joint venture will be able to produce up to 300 Black Swan drones annually, according to the release. Serial production will begin in 2025.

Dronamics in the parcel market Dronamics, which is licensed to operate in Europe, this summer became the first cargo drone airline to be assigned designator codes by IATA and the International Civil Aviation Organization .

[caption id="attachment_57139207" align="alignright" width="300"] Svilen Rangelov, left, co-founder and CEO of Dronamics, and Alaa Saoudi, Aramex chief operating officer of express management, attend a signing ceremony. (Photo/Dronamics)[/caption] Dronamics last month signed a letter of intent with domestic delivery service provider Emirates Post Group (EPG) to provide same-day, middle-mile and long-range delivery services. EPG will “enable Dronamics, through its postal and express business managed by Emirates Post, to conduct proof-of-concept flights in the UAE with at least one drone aircraft by 2024,” according to an Oct. 13 release.

Dronamics also announced this month that it will collaborate with Hellenic Post to “bring the first postal services by cargo drone in Greece.” The drone company will provide middle-mile deliveries for Greece’s national post service from the mainland to the country’s islands. Greece has more than 300 inhabited islands.

“The two companies are also exploring international cooperation to provide postal cargo drone deliveries from Athens to key European cities,” a Nov. 2 release stated. “Greece is the launch market for Dronamics’ commercial operations, expected to begin early next year.”

Join Air Cargo Next for the upcoming webinar “The future of AI in air cargo,” on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. ET. More information about the webinar and registration is available here .

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