Changi Airport has officially moved autonomous ground handling from trial to reality, beginning live airside operations of fully driverless tractors after close to a year of extensive testing. The milestone follows nearly 5,000 trial trips designed to validate the technology’s safety, reliability and readiness for deployment in one of the world’s busiest airport environments.
Two autonomous tractors are now operating between the baggage handling areas at Terminal 1 and Terminal 4, transporting passenger luggage without onboard drivers. These vehicles are fitted with more than 10 sensors and cameras, allowing them to detect obstacles, interpret their surroundings and operate safely in all weather conditions, including heavy rain and nighttime operations. Although the tractors run independently, their movements are continuously monitored from a remote control center, where trained operators can step in immediately if intervention is needed.
The launch was officiated on January 20 by Singapore’s senior minister of state for transport, Sun Xueling, and marks a significant step in Changi Airport’s broader push to automate airside operations and raise productivity. Airport authorities see automation as a critical enabler as passenger volumes continue to grow and operational demands become more complex.
Later this year, Changi Airport Group (CAG) and ground handler SATS will expand the program by introducing six additional autonomous tractors on a separate route linking Terminal 2’s baggage handling area with aircraft stands. By 2027, the fleet is expected to grow to 24 vehicles, with future use cases extending beyond baggage transport to include towing cargo and other airside equipment.
The project is co-funded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and forms part of Changi Airport’s wider innovation strategy, which emphasizes greater use of automation, robotics and artificial intelligence across airside functions. According to CAG, the introduction of autonomous tractors is intended to reduce the need for staff to perform repetitive driving tasks, allowing them to focus on more complex “last-mile” activities that are harder to automate and add greater value to operations.
To ensure safe integration with human workers and conventional vehicles, designated zones for autonomous vehicles have been clearly marked across the airside. The tractors themselves are also prominently labeled, helping personnel easily identify them during day-to-day operations.
As Changi Airport prepares to scale up capacity in the lead-up to Terminal 5 in the mid-2030s, airport leaders believe automation will play a central role in reshaping airside job roles and improving overall efficiency. Liu Yanling, senior vice president for airport operations strategy and transformation at CAG, described the launch as a major milestone in Changi’s long-term vision.
“The operationalization of our autonomous tractors represents a huge step forward as we move toward the airside of the future,” she said, noting that close collaboration with airport partners has been essential in redesigning work processes and infrastructure to support safe, seamless interaction between autonomous and human-driven vehicles.
Angela Ng, director of aviation industry at CAAS, added that the scaled deployment supports broader workforce transformation across the aviation sector, enabling workers to transition into higher-value roles. SATS also expects the initiative to deliver tangible benefits, including improved safety, faster aircraft turnarounds and more reliable service for passengers.
