Airports: Shuttle and Transit Bus Fleet Applications and Manufacturers

Airport-owned shuttle and transit buses typically drive many miles and consume substantial fuel. The vehicles, either contracted out or managed by the airport authority, transport passengers and employees from parking lots to terminals. Using alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies in these applications can have a large impact on public perception, emissions, and operational costs.

Ground access vehicles, most of which are privately owned, are used to transport passengers to and from the airport. Fleets include private parking shuttles, hotel shuttles, taxis, and rental car shuttles. These vehicles are usually driven many miles, consume large amounts of fuel, and produce substantial emissions. Efforts at consolidating rental car shuttles and hotel shuttles have resulted in reduced traffic and emissions at several airports. The key to successful implementation in these applications is strong relationships with fleet operators and available infrastructure to support alternative fuel use.

For information on these applications, including lists of vehicle manufacturers, see the Shuttle Buses and Transit Buses pages. Alternative vehicle and fuel types include biodiesel, compressed and liquefied natural gas, propane, ethanol (E85), and hybrid technologies.

See the Airport Shuttle Outreach Toolkit for information on marketing and using alternative fuel vehicles in airport shuttle applications. The toolkit covers airport shuttle characteristics, alternative fuel shuttle marketing strategies, surveys of shuttle fleets at major airports, links to product information, and relevant contacts.