Cargo drone developer Dronamics has signed an interline agreement with international cargo carrier Qatar Airways Cargo. The partnership marks the first interline agreement between an international airline and a cargo drone airline.
The interline agreement enables the extension of the delivery networks of both partners, significantly increasing their reach as well as providing access to areas previously hard to reach by traditional air freight. Through the agreement, Dronamics can offer cargo services from any of its droneports, initially in Greece, to the wider Qatar Airways Cargo network, including destinations such as Singapore, the USA (JFK) and China, including Hong Kong.
Through this network expansion, Dronamics customers can make a single booking to transport goods (including pharma, food, e-commerce, mail, parcels to spare parts) from a Dronamics droneport to any destination that the interline joint network covers, and vice versa.
Svilen Rangelov, co-founder and CEO of Dronamics, said, ‘’We’re very excited to have the world’s largest air cargo carrier as our partner for the first-of-its-kind interline agreement with our category-defining cargo drone airline. While currently less than 1% of global trade moves by air, the vast global reach of Qatar Airways Cargo and their world-leading capacity and service give us the perfect platform to massively expand air cargo accessibility to countless more communities worldwide, enabling same-day delivery for everyone, everywhere.”
Elisabeth Oudkerk, SVP cargo sales and network planning at Qatar Airways Cargo, said, “As a part of our Vision 2027 five-year strategy, we are committed to remaining at the forefront of our industry by embracing new disruptive technology. It is also within our DNA to support young ambitious companies like Dronamics and we are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this exciting business. It is a significant milestone in the advancement of autonomous cargo drone transportation and we are proud to be the first international airline to offer this service.”
Dronamics is expected to begin commercial operations in Greece early next year, focusing on establishing a same-day service connecting Athens, the capital city, with the industrial north area of the country, as well as the islands in the south.
Earlier this year, Dronamics became the first cargo drone airline to obtain IATA and ICAO designator codes, granting it recognition on par with other international airlines, and the ability to issue air waybills to enable seamless bookings with its airline partners. This interline agreement is a crucial next step in Dronamics’ plan to establish a cargo drone airline network with worldwide reach.