Electric Buses and Autonomous Robots: Innovations at Vilnius and Schiphol Airports
Vilnius Airport (Lithuania) will introduce a fully electric passenger bus fleet in 2026 under a contract signed by Lithuanian Airports with COBUS Industries, a German airport bus manufacturer. The initial order covers 12 electric buses valued at EUR 7.2 million (USD 7.8 million), including maintenance and repair services. The new “e.Cobus 2700” models will operate exclusively on the apron, each measuring nearly 14 metres long and 2.7 metres wide, with capacity for up to 96 passengers. The buses feature a 282 kWh battery, doors on both sides, and a flat low-floor design to facilitate boarding.
The electric fleet will fully replace diesel buses during the second half of 2026. Lithuanian Airports, which manages Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga airports, aims to achieve CO2 neutrality by 2030.
The contract includes an option to procure three additional buses depending on future passenger growth. COBUS, whose vehicles operate at more than 350 airports worldwide, stated that the project supports Vilnius Airport’s zero-emission and operational efficiency goals.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (Netherlands) is developing an autonomous robot to connect aircraft to ground power units (GPUs), aiming to reduce turnaround times, emissions, and ground staff workload. The robot, named ARC (Autonomous Robot for GPU Connection), is being created in collaboration with German company NEURA Robotics, which specialises in cognitive robotics capable of visual, auditory, and tactile perception. ARC autonomously collects and attaches GPU cables to aircraft, eliminating the need for manual labour in this physically demanding task.
Schiphol’s initiative addresses long-standing problems in aircraft docking operations, including staff shortages, heavy manual work, and delays caused by extended engine idling. Automating GPU connections is expected to cut fuel use and emissions while improving worker safety and operational reliability.
ARC uses radar-assisted LiDAR navigation, computer vision, and a robotic arm with suction technology to locate and open aircraft access panels, handle power cables, and complete electrical connections without human input. The system can operate safely amid apron traffic and adjust for variations in aircraft types.
The airport, working with home carrier KLM, is testing ARC as part of its wider ‘Seamless Inbound Flow’ programme, which seeks to automate the entire docking process. Early trials have demonstrated that fully autonomous GPU connections are feasible and could transform apron operations.
Following a recent demonstration in Amsterdam attended by airlines, airports, and ground-handling companies, Schiphol and NEURA reported strong industry interest and plan to advance the technology toward large-scale implementation.
Austro Control, Austria’s national air navigation service provider, has selected ADB SAFEGATE’s OneControl integrated air traffic control platform for installation at Vienna Airport (Vienna, Austria) by 2028. The system, developed in Graz and already in use at Hamburg Airport (Germany), will replace all controller working positions in the Vienna Airport tower. It is intended to integrate multiple operational displays into a single interface, providing controllers with unified access to flight, surveillance, and ground movement data.
Austro Control chose the solution following an international tender. Managing Director Philipp Piber said the platform would provide operational reliability and support safe and efficient air traffic handling. Commissioning of the new system is planned for the end of 2028.
ADB SAFEGATE, a global airport technology company headquartered in Belgium and operating in more than 175 countries, stated that OneControl enables faster and more accurate decision-making by combining safety-critical information in one workspace.
The platform includes conflict detection, automated workflows, and predictive airside management tools to improve tower efficiency and compliance with international and EU operational standards. It is designed to support data-driven coordination from approach to take-off, aiming to reduce delays and improve environmental performance across airport operations.
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Smiths Detection, a UK-based manufacturer of security screening equipment, has received European Civil Aviation Conference/European Union (ECAC/EU) G1 approval for its IONSCAN 600 explosives trace detector. The approval covers the device’s new Control Parameter set, confirming compliance with the latest G1 standards for passenger and cargo screening at regulated European sites. The IONSCAN 600 was already certified under the ECAC/EU explosives trace detection standard for hand and wand sampling and now meets both ETD and G1 requirements.
Existing units can be upgraded with the approved CP set to maintain compliance with current ECAC regulations. The enhanced version provides reliable detection across a broad range of explosives and narcotics, including synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
The IONSCAN 600 uses a non-radioactive ion mobility spectrometry source, eliminating the need for nuclear licensing. It features single-use swabs for manual and wand sampling, as well as hot-swappable batteries to enable uninterrupted operation in varied environments.
Guadalajara International Airport (Jalisco, Mexico) is expanding its aircraft rescue and firefighting capacity with the purchase of a new Oshkosh Striker 6x6 vehicle, scheduled for delivery in December 2025. The addition continues the airport’s two-decade partnership with Oshkosh Airport Products and confirms its status as a fully Oshkosh-equipped ARFF operation.
The new Striker 6x6, powered by a 670-horsepower Scania DC16 engine, includes a hydraulic 10 kW generator, Eco-EFP foam system, dual 1,250 GPM turrets, dual agent and air hose reels, and an electric cord reel for extended operations. It also features two preconnected handlines and a Hydrochem nozzle for low-attack firefighting.
Oshkosh’s local dealer, ATEPSA, will oversee commissioning and operator training on site. The airport’s ARFF fleet already includes several 4x4 and 6x6 Striker models, some equipped with Snozzle high-reach extendable turrets.
According to Oshkosh, the new unit strengthens emergency preparedness at one of Mexico’s busiest airports, ensuring rapid response across complex airfield terrain and supporting uninterrupted operational safety.
IDEMIA Public Security, a global provider of biometric and digital identity technologies, has signed a memorandum of understanding with MATARAT Holding (Saudi Arabia) to collaborate on digital transformation across the country’s airports. The agreement, concluded during the Dubai Airshow, covers the joint development of biometric and digital identity systems, digital platforms and technical consultation to streamline airport operations. MATARAT manages and develops 27 airports in Saudi Arabia.
The partnership supports the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy by aiming to improve operational efficiency and passenger processing through IDEMIA’s biometric technologies and MATARAT’s airport management expertise.
Hamad International Airport (Doha, Qatar) has commissioned a Virtual Air Traffic Control Tower (vTWR) to remotely manage ground operations using ultra-high-definition digital imaging and artificial intelligence. Developed by Searidge Technologies in partnership with ADB Safegate and NATS, the system is the first hybrid digital tower certified by safety regulators in the Middle East. It provides a 360° panoramic view of the airport’s western expansion area, eliminating the need for a secondary control tower and addressing line-of-sight constraints from the main ATC facility.
The vTWR integrates with existing systems such as ADB Safegate’s OneControl, A-SMGCS surveillance, and ATM flight data to enhance situational awareness and operational safety. It includes four controller workstations, split between the primary ATC tower and the Back-Up & Approach Training Centre.
Implemented under the Western Taxiway and Stand Development Project, the digital tower forms part of Qatar’s wider infrastructure modernisation. According to Eissa Al-Meabid, Head of Air Traffic Control at the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, the project marks a regional milestone in improving safety, resilience, and efficiency through advanced technology.
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Abu Dhabi Airports (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SITA to jointly develop an AI-driven Intelligent Total Airport Management (iTAM) platform to improve operational performance and passenger flow.
The system will integrate real-time data from airlines, ATC, ground handlers and government agencies to optimise resources, anticipate disruptions and enhance safety and efficiency across the airport ecosystem. Designed as a scalable model for Zayed International Airport, the iTAM platform aims to make Abu Dhabi one of the world’s first fully connected digital airports and a global benchmark for intelligent airport operations.
Leidos and Quadridox have formed a technology partnership to integrate their computed tomography (CT) and X-ray diffraction imaging (XRDI) systems into a next-generation checked baggage screening platform. The collaboration combines Leidos’ Examiner 3DX CT system with Quadridox’s DELPHI XRDI technology to improve detection accuracy and reduce false positives in airport security operations. The integrated system aims to maintain high throughput while enhancing the identification of concealed threats.
According to Leidos executive Nik Karnik, the combined technologies will deliver a more comprehensive and effective screening solution for airports facing rising passenger volumes. Quadridox CEO Joel Greenberg said the integration, supported by AI-based algorithms, represents a new phase in threat detection and prepares systems for future global standards. Following extensive internal testing, data collection and algorithm development are underway ahead of planned airport trials in 2026.
Publisher’s note: The articles in this special report, compiled for inter airport Europe, are a few select samples from the biweekly Momberger Airport Information newsletter, published since 1973. The newsletter is an advertising-free, global airport news service that consists of 9 modules and allows subscribers to customize their own newsletter package. The modules that make up the biweekly newsletter are: Airport Development (DEV), Calendar of Events (CAL), and the subscriber-selectable modules Airport Operations (OPS), Management, Ownership & Finance (MGT), Ground Support Equipment (GSE), Air Traffic Services (ATC), Consultant & Contractor / Sustainable Aviation (CON), Airport Information Technology (AIT), and Maintenance Base & FBO (MRO). For more information, a sample of a complete newsletter issue, and to order an annual subscription, please visit www.mombergerairport.info.
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