The shuttles will be used to transport KLM Cityhopper crew to and from their aircraft. Credit: Royal Schiphol Group

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has partnered with Dutch airline group KLM to test self-driving shuttles for the transport of flight crew at the airport. 

The trial marks the second phase of testing for the shuttles at Schiphol Airport, and will allow KLM Cityhopper crew to use the vehicles on a pre-programmed route to and from the apron. 

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Jan Zekveld, head of innovation at the Royal Schiphol Group, said the airport was interested to see what data could be collected from trials in the apron after conducting its initial airside tests in March. 

He said: “We’re also curious how airline crew members experience self-driving transport. This will help to build trust in the technology and potentially facilitates future integration of other self-driving vehicles.” 

While the Ohmio-built shuttles will drive along a fixed route, cameras, GPS technology, and LIDAR sensors installed onboard will also allow the vehicles to detect and move around objects from up to 30m away. 

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The electric vehicles will be supported by KLM Ground Services and form part of the efforts to decarbonise operations at the airport, in line with Schiphol’s aim for emission-free ground operations by 2050. 

Maarten Koopmans, managing director KLM Cityhopper, said his company was keen to support the trials as part of its own ambitious ground services goals, he said: “I’m very enthusiastic about this trial and think it’s great that our crew can test this innovative, self-driving bus. 

“KLC has always set the trend in implementing the latest technologies and this innovation also fits in perfectly with KLM’s aim to achieve emission-free ground handling by 2030.”

Autonomous ground support vehicles are nothing new for the aviation industry, with Schiphol itself using self-driving baggage tractors since 2021 and London Gatwick in the UK trialling autonomous cars to transport employees around its airfield back in 2018.