You can already see them here and there at Schiphol: autonomous vehicles and equipment. Where before a human was needed, technology gives a helping hand. In the not-too-distant future, these self-driving and self-operating vehicles and tools will be the norm at Schiphol. Let’s take a glimpse into the future!
Where will you soon see the most autonomous vehicles and tools at the airport? Basically everywhere: on the apron, in the baggage basement, in the terminal. What will that look like? Suppose you are at the gate waiting to board. Now you see lots of people around the aircraft, busy preparing it for the next flight. That will be completely different in 25 to 30 years' time. All the vehicles you see now will have been replaced by an interconnected fleet of self-driving, emission-free vehicles. And all other processes, such as baggage and passenger transport, will have been automated.
Why will it take so long, while autonomous cars and buses are already driving on public roads here and there? Because many solutions are not yet suited for use at an airport. All that needs to be specially developed. And we’re working on it. We’re conducting pilots at various locations, investigating whether the technology is feasible and safe. Only when we have convincing proof of this will we expand.
There were two pilots with small autonomous buses in 2024. In the first, employees were taken from security to their workplace, and in the second, flight crew from the aircraft to the terminal. In both cases, the buses provided a stable, reliable service and employees were enthusiastic. The next step is a pilot with larger buses, such as those that transport passengers between the aircraft and the terminal. There is currently a successful pilot going on involving a self-driving wheelchair in the terminal. And a follow-up pilot with a self-driving baggage vehicle has just started.
Schiphol is putting a lot of energy into the development of autonomous solutions. And that’s all for good reason. Schiphol, like many other companies, no longer gets all vacancies filled easily. Autonomous vehicles can offer a solution. Autonomous solutions also improve working conditions, especially when heavy work is involved such as lifting things in the baggage basement. That is why lifting aids and robots are available at many locations. Travellers also benefit from autonomous solutions; the bus between terminal and aircraft can run more often, which reduces waiting times.
Autonomous solutions do not mean that all employees at Schiphol will disappear. They will have a different role. For example, in the future, there will no longer be a driver behind the wheel on the bus between the aircraft and the terminal, but a steward will be on board to help travellers. More of a service-oriented role than a functional one. And if you think these developments are great but also a little scary, remember that we test the vehicles and machines extensively until we know for sure that they are reliable and safe.
Find out more about the self-driving bus, wheelchair and autonomous baggage vehicle pilots.