KLM has started taking part in a trial at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to test sustainable ways to taxi aircraft. The trial is being carried out with a Taxibot.

During the test yesterday, an empty KLM Boeing 737 was towed to the runway by the Taxibot. This is expected to reduce fuel consumption during taxiing by 50% to 85%.

This is a hybrid towing vehicle which, unlike the normal pushback trucks, is licenced to tow full aircraft to near the start of the runway, without the aircraft having to start its engines.

Schiphol Airport has made the Taxibot available to KLM, Transavia and Corendon to enable them to carry out joint research into more sustainable ways to taxi.

The trials will find out how far KLM can cut CO2 emissions by using the Taxibot, how long it takes to taxi with the Taxibot, and what effect this has on aircraft engine maintenance.

The study is also aimed at finding out and how KLM might introduce sustainable taxiing with Taxibots on a large scale into Schiphol's daily operations.

KLM's sustainability initiative, Fly Responsibly, launched last year, included a commitment to reducing carbon emissions caused by taxiing. This will contribute to KLM's ambition to cut its fleet's total carbon emissions by 15% compared to 2005.