Fast, punctual and flexible: these are the key requirements for the transportation of goods. In times of global trade in goods, air freight plays a central role. In order to significantly increase the efficiency and performance of the air freight transport chain, comprehensive digitalization and process autonomization are essential. The "Digital Test Field Air Cargo" project, led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) together with nine players in the air freight industry, has been dedicated to this task since 2021. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) is now increasing the funding by 6.8 million euros, thus ensuring the continuation of the work until August 2026. This brings the total funding to 13.7 million euros and a total volume of 18 million euros.

Oliver Luksic, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport, explained: "We need artificial intelligence in aviation to remain internationally competitive. This is the only way we can deploy scarce personnel in a targeted manner, make optimum use of limited infrastructure and thus reduce costs in the long term. We have a severe labor shortage in logistics in particular. Digital technologies are key to countering this and to being able to transport goods reliably, quickly and efficiently by air in the future. The 'Digital Test Field' project is an investment in the future viability of our country." Dr. Harald Sieke, Head of the Air Transport Logistics Department at Fraunhofer IML and overall project manager of DTAC, added: "With the expansion of the Digital Test Bed Air Cargo, we are driving forward the technological and knowledge advantage in air freight. In this way, we are presenting Germany to the world as an attractive and forward-looking hub for the digitalization of air freight processes."

Search for transferable solutions

In the project, the German air freight locations are working together with other market players on transferable digital solutions that will be made available to the international community as open source. The project focuses on the further development and consolidation of previous developments and concepts. This includes, in particular, the use of the international "ONE.record" data standard and the application of AI methods to ensure synergetic linking of processes.

For example, AI-supported forecasts of cargo space utilization by passenger baggage can be used to determine free cargo space capacities and used for freight transport. The project is also investigating the application and adaptation of automated and autonomous loading robots for use in the air freight sector at airports. These and other developments are of crucial importance in order to prepare the industry for the requirements of the future and to improve the efficiency and ultimately the sustainability of air freight processes.

Collaboration with international partners is a central component of the project in order to integrate global best practices and strengthen Germany's technological edge and industrial location. The expected results should not only revolutionize the air freight industry, but also serve as a blueprint for other industries facing similar challenges.

The project will be implemented in close cooperation with the existing consortium partners from the air freight industry, including Frankfurt, Cologne, Leipzig and Munich airports, as well as companies such as CHI Deutschland Cargo Handling, DB Schenker, Lufthansa Cargo and Sovereign Speed. In addition, Airbus and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are planned as associated partners for the project alongside LUG Aircargo and will strengthen the team as required.