Munich Airport has opened a new electric bus depot to support the transition of its ground transport operations to zero-emission vehicles.
The facility is operated by the airport’s ground handling subsidiary, AeroGround.
It is located in the southern section of the airport site and is equipped with 37 charging points for passenger buses. A further 13 chargers are scheduled to be installed by the end of summer 2025. A third construction stage, planned within the next two years, will add 22 more charging points and carports fitted with photovoltaic panels.
AeroGround operates 37 electric passenger buses, including 20 standard-length and 17 articulated units. Eighteen more are due to enter service by the end of the year, with a long-term aim of operating up to 72 vehicles. Alongside buses, AeroGround is introducing electric and alternative power vehicles across its ground support equipment, adding 173 such units in 2024 alone.
Munich Airport CEO Jost Lammers said:With this new depot, we’re building the necessary infrastructure for fully electrified ground operations on the aprons. Half of our current ground fleet already runs on battery power. This project is another big step forward for our ‘Net Zero 2035’ strategy, bringing us closer to operating as a carbon-neutral airport.
Munich Airport’s sustainability strategy sets a target of achieving carbon-neutral operations by 2035. Current use of the electric bus fleet reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2,000 tonnes annually. Once the transition to an all-electric fleet is complete, the airport expects savings of more than 4,000 tonnes each year.
The new depot has been financed with 23.8 million EUR through the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport’s programme for promoting alternative drives in passenger buses. The initiative is supported by the German Recovery and Resilience Plan under the European Union’s NextGenerationEU fund. Project coordination is managed by NOW GmbH, with implementation by Project Management Jülich.
Ulrich Lange, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport said:By subsidising 72 electric buses and the associated charging infrastructure, we are providing Munich Airport with targeted support to modernise its bus fleet. This sends a clear signal for progressive mobility, both for domestic and international guests. This investment demonstrates that innovative technologies are advancing beyond theory and being implemented in the daily operations of one of Europe's largest airports.
