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KLM Cityhopper’s First Embraer TaxiBot Flight at Schiphol

KLM Cityhopper’s First Embraer TaxiBot Flight at Schiphol-feature-image

KLM Cityhopper has successfully completed its first commercial passenger flight supported by TaxiBot with an Embraer aircraft at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, just days after the successful certification of TaxiBot operations on the Embraer fleet.

This milestone marks the transition from certification to commercial operations and represents another major step in deploying sustainable aircraft taxiing at Schiphol.

More importantly, this first flight is not a standalone demonstration: it marks the beginning of regular TaxiBot operations with the KLM Cityhopper Embraer fleet, with many more commercial missions expected to follow.

From Embraer certification to commercial TaxiBot operations

The first commercial operation follows the successful completion of the TaxiBot certification campaign with KLM Cityhopper and the project partners.

The certification process demonstrated the compatibility of TaxiBot with the Embraer fleet and paved the way for its introduction into daily airline operations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Moving from certification to a commercial passenger flight represents an important achievement for the programme. It demonstrates how sustainable taxiing technology can progress from technical validation to real-world operations within a complex airport environment.

With KLM Cityhopper now joining TaxiBot commercial operations, an additional aircraft family can benefit from engine-off taxiing at Schiphol.

Sustainable taxiing with TaxiBot

TaxiBot is a semi-robotic, pilot-controlled aircraft towing system developed to enable aircraft to taxi between the gate and the runway while keeping their main engines switched off for most of the taxi-out phase.

Following pushback, the pilot takes control of the aircraft and TaxiBot directly from the cockpit using the aircraft’s standard steering and braking controls.

The main engines are started only closer to the runway, taking into account the required engine warm-up time before take-off.

By significantly reducing aircraft engine use during ground movements, TaxiBot can help airlines reduce:

  • Fuel consumption during taxiing
  • CO₂ emissions
  • NOx emissions
  • Fine and ultrafine particle emissions
  • Ground noise around the airport

At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, TaxiBot operations are particularly relevant for departures using the Polderbaan, where the longer taxiing distance creates significant potential for fuel and emission reductions.

Expanding TaxiBot operations to the Embraer fleet

The introduction of KLM Cityhopper’s Embraer aircraft represents another important step in expanding the range of aircraft types operating with TaxiBot.

TaxiBot has already been introduced into commercial operations at Schiphol with other aircraft families and airlines. Extending the operation to KLM Cityhopper demonstrates the scalability of the system across different airline fleets and operational environments.

Each additional certified aircraft type increases the number of flights that can potentially benefit from engine-off taxiing and supports the progressive integration of TaxiBot into everyday airport operations.

The objective is now clear: move beyond individual milestones and progressively scale the number of commercial TaxiBot missions performed at Schiphol.

Strong collaboration behind the milestone

Achieving commercial operations shortly after certification required close cooperation between KLM Cityhopper, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Smart Airport Systems and the different operational stakeholders involved in the programme.

From engineering and certification activities to pilot training, ground operations and operational integration, each partner contributed to bringing TaxiBot from validation into passenger service on the Embraer fleet.

Smart Airport Systems would like to thank all the KLM Cityhopper, Schiphol and partner teams who contributed to reaching this new milestone.

Another step towards large-scale sustainable taxiing at Schiphol

The first KLM Cityhopper commercial Embraer flight with TaxiBot is an important milestone but above all, it is the starting point for the next phase of the programme.

With additional aircraft types being integrated and TaxiBot operations progressively ramping up, Schiphol continues to move towards broader adoption of sustainable taxiing.

For KLM Cityhopper and the Embraer fleet, the journey has now moved from certification to commercial operations.

The first flight is complete. Many more are set to follow.