IN Brief:
- Aurrigo has gained permission to provide ground handling services at EMA.
- The approval supports rollout and integration of autonomous ground service equipment.
- East Midlands Airport is expanding cargo capacity, with new carriers and planned stands.
Aurrigo International has been awarded a licence for the provision of ground handling services at East Midlands Airport (EMA), securing formal approval to support rollout and implementation of its autonomous aviation technologies on-site. The Coventry-headquartered business said the licence is intended to allow closer operational support for partners as autonomous ground service equipment (GSE) is deployed and integrated into live airside operations.
“Securing this licence is another important step in our partnership with East Midlands Airport,” said David Keene MBE, CEO of Aurrigo International. “We have deliberately sought this approval to make sure we can support our partners as closely as possible, operating fully within the airport’s ground handling framework. This means we can be on the ground, providing one-to-one support during the roll-out of our autonomous solutions, ensuring they are seamlessly integrated, compliant, and successful from the outset.”
The move lands at a cargo gateway that is pushing for growth and operational capacity. East Midlands Airport describes itself as the UK’s largest pure freight operation, and reported a 37% year-on-year increase in freight handled in December 2025, with almost 38,000 tonnes moving through the airport that month. Across the financial year from April 2025, the airport said it had handled 313,615 tonnes to date, putting it on-track to exceed the prior year’s total of 370,000 tonnes.
EMA has also linked performance to new carrier activity and shifting cargo flows, stating that seven new carriers began operations during 2025. It has said YunExpress plans to open a new cargo warehouse at the airport in the coming months, initially supporting operations by partner Central Airlines, and it is progressing plans to identify four sites totalling 50 hectares for cargo developments. Those plans include new taxiways and aprons, and up to 18 new aircraft stands, framed by the airport as part of meeting projected cargo demand growth by 2043.
Against that operational backdrop, the ground handling licence provides a formal mechanism for Aurrigo to deliver agreed services at EMA, and to operate within the applicable UK framework. The Airports (Groundhandling) Regulations 1997 implement EU rules on access to the ground handling market, with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) setting conditions around market access and approvals. Separately, the CAA has signalled that new regulation for ground handling in the UK is being developed, aligned to ICAO standards, with applicability targeted for November 2026.
Aurrigo’s automated airside portfolio includes battery-powered vehicles designed to move baggage and cargo units, using sensor suites such as LIDAR for navigation and obstacle detection. The company positions these platforms as a route to reduce loading and unloading time, improve movement efficiency, and lower the reliance on conventional tug fleets, depending on local operating models and safety constraints.
Lauren Turner, East Midlands Airport’s Head of Airfield Operations, said: “We’re pleased to be working with Aurrigo on this innovative technology that could revolutionise the way goods and crews are moved around the airport. As the UK’s number one hub for dedicated air cargo, we’re always looking at ways to work smarter and ensure the operation is safe, efficient and fit for the future.”
Aurrigo said it will look to obtain ground handling licences at further locations where appropriate, linking those approvals to broader deployment activity for automated baggage and cargo handling systems.
