Sensational-Adelaide.com

Adelaide Airport to replace fleet with electric buses
Giuseppe Tauriello, The Advertiser
March 21, 2020 4:00pm

Adelaide Airport will introduce a fully electric bus fleet as early as next year, after awarding SkyBus the rights to operate all air-side and land-side shuttle buses at the precinct.

The five-year agreement followed a competitive tender process, and will see buses supplied by local manufacturer Precision Buses.

The four new buses will support the airport’s on-site shuttle services, including its long-term car park shuttle and air-side buses servicing regional airlines.

SkyBus will not replace the JetExpress service provided by Adelaide Metro or other operators connecting the airport with the Adelaide CBD.

Adelaide Airport’s plans would make it the first airport in the country to operate a fully electric bus fleet.

Adelaide Airport executive general manager Brenton Cox said SkyBus was chosen to operate the airport’s bus fleet after demonstrating a focus on “service efficiency, reliability and airport sustainability”.

“Adelaide Airport is the aviation gateway to South Australia, processing more than eight million passengers annually – and we strive for innovative solutions and continuous improvements in all areas including bus transport,” he said.

“The ability to engage a leading operator and local industry to provide a sustainable transport solution for both air-side and land-side buses is an excellent outcome for all of our stakeholders.”

SkyBus, owned by Melbourne-based transit company Kinetic, operates across Australia and New Zealand, servicing airports in cities including Melbourne, Gold Coast, Hobart and Auckland.

Kinetic co-chief executive Adam Begg said SkyBus would offer passengers and staff a “next generation transport experience”.

“SkyBus has a long and successful track record partnering with major airports across Australasia, to deliver market leading transit options,” he said.

“We are excited about Adelaide Airport’s appetite for innovation and what will be an exciting future for the airport.”

Edinburgh-based Precision Buses was established in 2016, and a year later built Australia’s first electric buses for the then State Government.

SkyBus will commence servicing the airport from next month.

The Advertiser

ChillyPhilly wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:26 pm

Get lost, Skybus. A good service for Melbourne but ridiculously overpriced.

ChillyPhilly wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:26 pm

Get lost, Skybus. A good service for Melbourne but ridiculously overpriced.

OlympusAnt wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 22, 2020 6:37 pm

AAL letting Skybus do the services is just AAL doing their usual thing. They are abandoning the public bus which works fine so they can get more money. I bet they'll take a fair bit of commission from Skybus.

ChillyPhilly wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:26 pm

Get lost, Skybus. A good service for Melbourne but ridiculously overpriced.

You think that's overpriced, check out the Sydney/Brisbane Airport trains. Now that's overpriced.

Sydney to Central $17.40 (Opal)
Brisbane to Central $19.50

These airports are taking commission from these trains. Contrast to some services from overseas.

Heathrow Airport - Central London ~$10 (by tube) - the other rip off services like Heathrow Express make commission
Chicago O'Hare ~$8
Zurich Airport ~$10
Copenhagen Airport ~$8
San Francisco ~$15

Norman wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:56 pm

This is a contract by the airport for on-ground transport, not the state government contracting buses to the airport. Completely different things.

SBD wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 23, 2020 12:56 pm

You guys are talking about transport into the city. Wasn't the press release only about the bus to the stand-off aircraft, and the bus to the long-term car park. Does Adelaide Airport's contractor really charge the passengers for these trips?

SRW wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:36 am

People are really struggling with reading comprehension here. Skybus will only be delivering airside, shuttle services not city connections. Although why the airport feels the need to outsource such basic operations is an interesting question.

OlympusAnt wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 5:37 pm

SRW wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:36 am

People are really struggling with reading comprehension here. Skybus will only be delivering airside, shuttle services not city connections. Although why the airport feels the need to outsource such basic operations is an interesting question.

Yeah that is very interesting indeed. There's only 2 shuttle buses anyway - long term parking and Rex.

Maybe the cost of hiring 2 drivers for the year is too much for 'em. Either that or they want to look "green" with the electric buses.