Self-driving vehicles and AI solutions: Sats lays out smarter future for Changi Airport

SINGAPORE - Future passengers at Changi Airport could get a glimpse of self-driving vehicles ferrying workers from one location to another.

On the backend, autonomous vehicles (AVs) are in a flurry of activity, moving baggage loads from air freight terminals to passenger terminals, and from the terminals to the aircraft.

Meanwhile, a platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) determines the most efficient way to deploy the AVs and their handlers, taking into account the tasks at hand and flight schedules.

This was part of a vision laid out by Singapore-listed ground handler and in-flight caterer Sats in its Hub Handler of the Future programme, unveiled on Oct 29.

Mr Henry Low, chief executive of Sats Singapore Hub, did not give a timeline for the programme, but said it was aimed at meeting the emerging needs of airports designed for high-capacity passenger and cargo operations.

The International Air Transport Association expects global air cargo volumes to reach 69 million tonnes in 2025 – a slight increase from 2024.

Mr Low said: “Our relentless drive for excellence and innovative ways to operate air hubs will elevate and future-proof Singapore’s aviation ecosystem.

“By integrating cutting-edge technologies and nurturing talent, we will help build resilient, agile and sustainable hubs for tomorrow.”

Mr Low told The Straits Times that autonomous baggage tractor trials with Changi Airport Group (CAG), which have been ongoing for several years, will move into a fresh stage in 2026.

He said: “We are currently in the phase of evolving our current concept of operations, and how we can incorporate AVs into our ways of working. We already have trial units and will be looking to progressively increase the number of AVs deployed.”

Also on the runway is a small-scale deployment of self-driving buses for airport workers at the end of 2026, Mr Low said.

The initiative by CAG, SIA Engineering Company and Sats Airport Services

has been on trial since July 2024

, in a push to improve manpower productivity at the airport through automation.

The idea is to use autonomous buses at the airside – the part of the airport where the loading and unloading of aircraft, as well as take-offs and landings, take place.

This is so that airside workers do not have to perform routine driving tasks and can focus on more complex activities.

Sats announced in May

that it would invest over $250 million

to upgrade its ground operations and cargo handling infrastructure at Changi Airport.

More than $150 million of the investment would be put towards renewing and expanding its ground support equipment fleet in Singapore.

Mr Low said a Sats AI initiative known as Flight to Task deployment, which is used to manage manpower and resources, also resulted in a 15 per cent increase in productivity during a proof-of-concept phase.

The platform has been partially deployed since April, with plans for a full deployment by 2027.

He added that the roll-out of technologies has brought about a need to redesign jobs.

This includes creating engineering roles focused on the maintenance of Sats’ electric and autonomous vehicles. Equipment operators could also be appointed to oversee and manage the firm’s self-driving fleet.

“With it comes different requirements that we need to get our workforce ready for. These are examples which we will need time to embed not just the technology, but the way we work,” Mr Low said.

Sats also hopes to cultivate future talent by collaborating with institutes of higher learning on co-developed digital aviation modules, micro-certifications and AI-prompt engineering training.

The firm acquired air cargo handler Worldwide Flight Services in 2023. Together they employ around 55,000 people across the world, with 10,000 being in the Singapore Hub.