dnata has unveiled the “Station of Tomorrow” at Orlando International Airport, introducing the latest technologies across operations to enhance safety, efficiency and sustainability.

The Orlando station sets new standards for ground handling in the USA with dnata’s $3 million investment including a fully electric GSE fleet along with a range of advanced passenger services, telematics, resource management, virtual training and anti-collision systems.

The project is designed to foster economic growth deliver benefits to local businesses and communities by strengthening the local aviation sector.

dnata’s partners in the project include Lufthansa Group, Oshkosh AeroTech, Evitado Technologies and AVIAR.

David Barker, Regional CEO for Americas at dnata, said: “We are proud to invest in Orlando, the home of dnata’s USA Headquarters, and lead the way in shaping the future of ground handling. This initiative aligns with our commitment to implementing practical, scalable solutions that enhance operational performance, safety, and service quality for our airline partners and their passengers.”

He added that dnata is committed to implementing the model across its 22 locations in the USA.

Jörg Mnich, Vice President Commercial Airport Agreements at Lufthansa Group, said: “Especially having Discover Airlines as launching customer at the “Station of Tomorrow” in MCO experiencing this big step in technology development shows the spirit of the partnership that has been established over the past years. We are keen to see the deployment of the tools and equipment to other joint stations across the network in due time.”

Lars Michael Wendel, Nominated Person Ground Operations at Discover Airlines, added: “With the ‘Station of Tomorrow,’ Discover Airlines can offer our customers a new experience that combines efficient technological processes and environmental aspects. We are particularly excited about the new E-GSE and the anti-collision system, which make the turnaround more environmentally friendly and meet the airlines’ high safety standards.”

In Orlando, dnata will operate a fleet of 14 electric GSE units including cargo loaders, pushbacks, bag tugs and belt loaders.

The passenger journey will be enhanced with check-in and baggage kiosks, baggage drop points and conveyor belt management systems to improve the passenger experience and minimise waiting times.

The ground handling system utilises a single digital platform to streamline operations, managing all aspects of ground handling processes from planning and scheduling to execution and reporting.

Advanced telematics systems will monitor real-time equipment usage and performance, enabling data-driven decision-making to reduce downtime and optimise operational efficiency.

The telematics solution ensures that drivers are fully trained and qualified via a direct link to dnata’s Learning Management System.

Virtual reality training complements classroom lessons, featuring scenario-based simulations in a zero-risk environment to build confidence and ensure safe, high-quality service.

The resource management system will optimise workforce and equipment allocation to keep operations agile and make sure resources are utilised efficiently.

AI-powered tools will enhance monitoring capabilities, ensuring safety, accuracy and operational oversight across baggage and ramp operations.

Collision avoidance systems will be implemented to mitigate risks through actionable data insights, enhancing safety and efficiency in ground towing operations.