Turkish ground handling company Celebi Aviation on Wednesday announced that it would make an investment of up to €45 million to bring Taxibots at key Indian airports over the next five to six years to provide eco-friendly taxiing solution to airlines and airports.
Taxibot is a semi-robotic equipment that tows an aircraft from the terminal gate to the runway with the aircraft’s engine turned off. This helps airlines to cut down fuel consumption by 85% during the takeoff stage as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“Our investment may go up to €45 million over the next five to six years if the industry takes to this technology. We plan to bring 30-40 Taxibots to Indian airports over this time period. Apart from Delhi Airport, where Taxibot operations have already commenced, we are also in talks with Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports,” Murali Ramachandran, CEO-India, Çelebi Aviation, said.
The company has signed an agreement with Delhi International Airport Limited for seven years and is already providing the service to SpiceJet. The airport became the first to use the semi-robotic equipment globally for taxiing of aircraft in May. There are two Taxibots at Delhi airport and there are plans to get three more in the near future.
Celebi has entered into a partnership with KSU Aviation and invested approximately €6.5 millionso far. Each of these units cost up to €1.5 million.
Celebi provides ground handling services, including handling of passengers, baggage and ramp at Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Ahmedabad and Kannur.
