Menzies adopts TaxiBot in live easyJet ramp ops at Schipol
Menzies Aviation is integrating TaxiBot electric taxiing technology into live ramp operations at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), expanding an easyJet deployment to three additional Airbus A320neo aircraft following a successful trial earlier this year, with the system projected to save 95kg of fuel and reduce CO₂ output by 299kg per flight.
TaxiBot electric taxiing replaces main engine use during ground movements between gate and runway, delivering fuel savings of up to 65% on taxi operations at scale, a direct cost-reduction lever for carriers managing fuel budgets at one of Europe’s highest-throughput hub airports.
The semi-robotic, electrically driven tow vehicle eliminates the fuel burn associated with running jet engines at low thrust during taxi phases, translating each departure cycle into a measurable reduction in fuel expenditure without altering aircraft turnaround sequencing.
AMS is the first airport in Europe to operate electric TaxiBot for Airbus aircraft, with easyJet acting as the anchor carrier for the deployment. Menzies Aviation, which has operated ground services at AMS for more than 33 years, is responsible for vehicle operation, staff training, and ground movement coordination as the designated handling partner.
The company has provided passenger, ramp and de-icing services to U2 at AMS for 30 years, a relationship Menzies describes as the operational foundation for introducing the technology into a live, high-frequency environment.
Miguel Gomez Sjunnesson, executive vice-president Europe, Menzies Aviation, said: “The deployment of TaxiBot at Schiphol illustrates our capability to collaborate with partners to implement new technology in day-to-day ground operations. At Menzies, we’re focused on delivering solutions that improve efficiency, enhance safety and reduce emissions. Working closely with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and easyJet, we’re embedding TaxiBot into everyday operations to help create a cleaner, healthier environment for our teams on the ground and ultimately support everyone’s net-zero ambitions.”
Beyond per-flight fuel savings, TaxiBot electric taxiing reduces NOx and ultrafine particle emissions on the apron — categories increasingly subject to regulatory scrutiny at slot-constrained European airports where environmental performance targets carry direct financial penalties for non-compliant operators.
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