In conversation with COBUS CEO Patricia Vasconcelos, Airside learns how the company is driving innovation in the apron bus market by prioritising reliability, longevity and sustainability
Can you tell Airside about COBUS?
COBUS is a global technology leader in low-floor airport buses, pioneering innovative mobility solutions for over 35 years.
With the very first COBUS delivered in 1990, built on a Mercedes-Benz chassis with a full aluminium body, we have set the benchmark for reliability and longevity. Innovation has been part of our DNA ever since.
In 2016, we introduced the first fully electric airport bus on the market, followed by the newly concepted COBUS VEGA.
Today, nearly 5,000 COBUS buses operate at around 350 airports in over 100 countries. This global presence reflects our long-standing customer partnerships, engineering expertise and strong commitment to quality, sustainability and innovation. We support our customers with tailored services, financing and flexible vehicle configurations, always focused on keeping their operations smooth, efficient and ready for the future.
How would you define the company’s mission?
We empower airports, airlines and ground handlers worldwide to move passengers efficiently and safely, while meeting and exceeding environmental and technical standards, through innovative, reliable and future-ready apron bus solutions.
What is your assessment of the market today? How is business this year?
The aviation market has fully recovered from the impact of Covid-19. Passenger numbers are expected to nearly double by 2035 compared to 2016, reaching approximately 7.2 billion.
Given the constraints on terminal expansion and construction, remote parking positions become more and more important as well as efficient transfers between terminals. Airlines are focused on shortening ‘on block’ times and consequently require efficient boarding and deboarding services at both the front and rear passenger doors, especially for narrowbody aircraft.
The effective implementation of these requirements can only be achieved through the use of airport buses.
COBUS offers both diesel and electric apron buses – but you’re also developing a hydrogen model. Can you tell Airside a bit more about this?
At COBUS, our focus goes beyond moving passengers from A to B within the airport. We are dedicated to supporting our customers in running their operations as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, through reliable products, tailored solutions and comprehensive service support.
To meet the changing needs of airports we continuously monitor and adapt to rapidly evolving technologies and offer a full range of drive systems including diesel, electric and, looking ahead, hydrogen.
Hydrogen is a new path through innovation and COBUS is proud to be the pioneering manufacturer bringing this state-of-the-art drive technology to airport mobility with our COBUS Hydra.
The use of hydrogen enables zero-emission operations and contributes to the modernisation of airport infrastructure by providing flexible refuelling infrastructure and autonomy comparable to fossil fuel drives.
In line with our commitment to adaptability, COBUS already offers diesel-to-electric conversion solutions. We are pursuing the development of a hydrogen conversion concept that would enable existing COBUS vehicles to be retrofitted with hydrogen technology.
This approach offers airports a cost-effective and sustainable way to transition to low-emission operations without having to replace their entire fleet.
What role do you believe hydrogen will play in ground operations in future?
The aviation industry has a key role to play in global decarbonisation and must actively reduce emissions in order to reduce by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 of global emissions.
Airports have three possibilities of powering GSE to be carbon free: electric, hydrogen or synthetic fuels.
Electric buses are already a proven solution, offering reliable and zero-emission operation, though they require careful planning of charging infrastructure, especially at larger airports or in areas with high energy demands.
Hydrogen, on the other hand, provides fast refuelling, long operational autonomy and a simpler centralised infrastructure, making it a highly promising option for airports with specific operational challenges.
Both technologies will play an important role in the transition to sustainable ground operations, and the right choice depends on the individual needs at each airport.
What other innovative solutions are you working on today?
An important factor for the efficient operation of ground support equipment is the intelligent use of AI. By continuously monitoring and analysing data and AI, we can optimise the use of GSE and always maintain full awareness of its technical condition. It will minimise downtimes and significantly reduce operational cost.
Can you share details about any projects the company is working on at the moment?
We are constantly working on projects that enhance the performance and efficiency of our vehicles. In partnership with our suppliers, we have built a dedicated team focused on supporting our customers’ operations and ensuring optimal vehicle performance.
This team manages initiatives such as developing innovative analytic solutions to monitor battery performance, extend battery life and optimise overall vehicle efficiency. Their hands-on expertise allows us to respond quickly to customer needs and continuously improve airport operations.
Aftersales service has always been a core focus for COBUS. Today, we continue to expand these services by enhancing our training programmes and broadening our service offerings, ensuring our customers receive the support they need to run their operations smoothly and cost-effectively.
