Air India has announced that it will introduce TaxiBot operations for its A320 aircraft fleet at Delhi and Bengaluru airports, in a bid to reduce jet fuel consumption. The airline has signed an agreement with KSU Aviation to launch the semi-robotic equipment that acts as an extension of an aircraft’s nose landing gear. The TaxiBot will be used to tow aircraft from the airport terminal gate to the taxi-out point and to tow aircraft from the terminal gate after landing (taxi-in phase) without using the aircraft’s engines. This initiative is expected to result in a saving of approximately 15,000 tonnes of jet fuel over three years, according to the statement issued by the airline.
Air India’s CEO & MD Campbell Wilson highlighted the airline’s commitment to sustainability and its efforts to manage its carbon footprint. He stated that the collaboration with KSU will allow Air India to evaluate the capabilities of TaxiBots and potentially lead to greater deployment across the airline’s subsidiaries and other airports. The adoption of TaxiBots is a positive step towards promoting green aviation and reducing the environmental impact of the aviation industry. It will be interesting to see how this initiative progresses and whether other airlines follow suit.
