{"id":71908,"date":"2023-07-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2023\/07\/06\/uae-approves-first-license-for-self-driving-vehicles-qatar-airways-boosts-cargo-operations-to-saudis-dammam-plus-flynas-boosts-fleet-and-news-from-iran-air-emirates-and-etihad-airways\/"},"modified":"2023-07-06T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T00:00:00","slug":"uae-approves-first-license-for-self-driving-vehicles-qatar-airways-boosts-cargo-operations-to-saudis-dammam-plus-flynas-boosts-fleet-and-news-from-iran-air-emirates-and-etihad-airways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/logistics\/2023\/07\/06\/uae-approves-first-license-for-self-driving-vehicles-qatar-airways-boosts-cargo-operations-to-saudis-dammam-plus-flynas-boosts-fleet-and-news-from-iran-air-emirates-and-etihad-airways\/","title":{"rendered":"UAE approves first license for self-driving vehicles + Qatar Airways boosts cargo operations to Saudi\u2019s Dammam. PLUS: Flynas boosts fleet, and news from Iran Air, Emirates, and Etihad Airways"},"content":{"rendered":"

LAST MILE-<\/span><\/p>\n

The UAE has approved the first national license for self-driving vehicles to operate on<\/span> its roads<\/span>, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said in a <\/span>statement<\/a><\/span>. The license grants China-based self-driving research outfit <\/span>WeRide<\/a><\/span> the green light to conduct tests for self-driving vehicles on the UAE\u2019s roadways. Dubai is angling to have <\/span>25% of all road trips automated by 2030<\/a><\/span> through a government-backed strategy that will see widespread adoption of self-driving solutions for transport and logistics.<\/span><\/p>\n

AVIATION-<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Qatar Airways Cargo<\/a><\/span> has added two new Boeing 777 freighters to its cargo routes <\/span>with Saudi Arabia<\/span>, according to a company <\/span>statement<\/a><\/span>. The freighters, which will go to the Saudi city of Dammam, have a weekly tonnage capacity of 350 tonnes each way. The company has also rolled out a new freighter frequency to Riyadh, increasing the overall frequencies to five Boeing 777 freighters weekly, providing 850 tonnes of cargo capacity each round trip to Riyadh. <\/span><\/p>\n

Can AI push the UAE\u2019s aviation industry forward?<\/span>Etihad Airways<\/a><\/span> and <\/span>Mohamed bin<\/a><\/span>Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence<\/a><\/span> (<\/span>MBZUAI<\/span>) have inked an agreement to develop initiatives and conduct research to enhance the UAE\u2019s aviation sector through the use of AI, according to a <\/span>statement<\/a><\/span> by Abu Dhabi Media Office. The two organizations will hold seminars and workshops on utilizing AI in aviation, while providing educational chances for MBZUAI students, with a specific emphasis on enhancing their comprehension of the aviation sector and investigating how AI can be utilized to tackle the challenges it\u2019s facing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Flynas expands its fleet with two new A320neo aircraft: <\/span>Saudi Airlines <\/span>Flynas<\/a><\/span> has <\/span>received two <\/span>A320neo aircraft at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, increasing its fleet size to 51 planes, according to a <\/span>press release<\/a><\/span>. The delivery is part of an agreement with Airbus to buy <\/span>30 new A320neo aircraft<\/span> during the Paris Air Show. The airline\u2019s board of directors in March <\/span>agreed<\/a><\/span> to expand new aircraft orders to 250 aircraft, which makes Flynas the largest low-cost carrier in the MENA region, the company said. <\/span><\/p>\n

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-<\/span><\/p>\n