DICE explains that Battlefield 5's Airlifts are not loot boxes
Airlift is not just a different word for a loot box in Battlefield 5.
Sometime after the reveal of Battlefield 5, DICE took to detailing the game's various editions and what's included in each one.
The word 'Airlift' shows up in that article, as the deluxe edition includes 20 of them. Each one contains one customisation item, so they're not technically loot boxes.
That didn't stop players from assuming the worst, however, with some believing that this is just EA's way of skirting around the definition of loot boxes.
Now, DICE has chimed in to clarify what Airlifts are, and exactly what you're getting with the deluxe edition. According to an EA community manager, Airlifts are simply customisation items to be delivered to deluxe edition owners. They're also available as a pre-order bonus with some retailers.
These items are not random, but are in fact predetermined and will be the same for all players. "No performance or gameplay advantage will be gained from these items," the community manager explained on Reddit.
So they're basically just content drops, which DICE will likely sell for real money to players. The deluxe edition only guarantees you'll receive 20 of these over 20 weeks.
Battlefield 5 is out October 19 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.