News & Discussion: Adelaide Airport & Airlines

[Ho Really]

Adelaide Airport to replace fleet with electric buses
Giuseppe Tauriello, The Advertiser
March 21, 2020 4:00pm

Adelaide Airport will introduce a fully electric bus fleet as early as next year, after awarding SkyBus the rights to operate all air-side and land-side shuttle buses at the precinct.

The five-year agreement followed a competitive tender process, and will see buses supplied by local manufacturer Precision Buses.

The four new buses will support the airport’s on-site shuttle services, including its long-term car park shuttle and air-side buses servicing regional airlines.

SkyBus will not replace the JetExpress service provided by Adelaide Metro or other operators connecting the airport with the Adelaide CBD.

Adelaide Airport’s plans would make it the first airport in the country to operate a fully electric bus fleet.

Adelaide Airport executive general manager Brenton Cox said SkyBus was chosen to operate the airport’s bus fleet after demonstrating a focus on “service efficiency, reliability and airport sustainability”.

“Adelaide Airport is the aviation gateway to South Australia, processing more than eight million passengers annually – and we strive for innovative solutions and continuous improvements in all areas including bus transport,” he said.

“The ability to engage a leading operator and local industry to provide a sustainable transport solution for both air-side and land-side buses is an excellent outcome for all of our stakeholders.”

SkyBus, owned by Melbourne-based transit company Kinetic, operates across Australia and New Zealand, servicing airports in cities including Melbourne, Gold Coast, Hobart and Auckland.

Kinetic co-chief executive Adam Begg said SkyBus would offer passengers and staff a “next generation transport experience”.

“SkyBus has a long and successful track record partnering with major airports across Australasia, to deliver market leading transit options,” he said.

“We are excited about Adelaide Airport’s appetite for innovation and what will be an exciting future for the airport.”

Edinburgh-based Precision Buses was established in 2016, and a year later built Australia’s first electric buses for the then State Government.

SkyBus will commence servicing the airport from next month.

The Advertiser

Cheers

[Patrick_27]

And now we wait for the state government to hand over city-to-airport bus operations to SkyBus which will see a complete downturn in the use of the service and kill any plans for light rail to the airport.

[ChillyPhilly]

Get lost, Skybus. A good service for Melbourne but ridiculously overpriced.

[Patrick_27]

Get lost, Skybus. A good service for Melbourne but ridiculously overpriced.

SkyBus and the taxi industry has literally been the bane of trying to get airport rail up and running in Melbourne.

[Norman]

This is a contract by the airport for on-ground transport, not the state government contracting buses to the airport. Completely different things.

[OlympusAnt]

AAL letting Skybus do the services is just AAL doing their usual thing. They are abandoning the public bus which works fine so they can get more money. I bet they'll take a fair bit of commission from Skybus.

Get lost, Skybus. A good service for Melbourne but ridiculously overpriced.

You think that's overpriced, check out the Sydney/Brisbane Airport trains. Now that's overpriced.

Sydney to Central $17.40 (Opal)
Brisbane to Central $19.50

These airports are taking commission from these trains. Contrast to some services from overseas.

Heathrow Airport - Central London ~$10 (by tube) - the other rip off services like Heathrow Express make commission
Chicago O'Hare ~$8
Zurich Airport ~$10
Copenhagen Airport ~$8
San Francisco ~$15

[RoiMartel]

AAL letting Skybus do the services is just AAL doing their usual thing. They are abandoning the public bus which works fine so they can get more money. I bet they'll take a fair bit of commission from Skybus.

Get lost, Skybus. A good service for Melbourne but ridiculously overpriced.

You think that's overpriced, check out the Sydney/Brisbane Airport trains. Now that's overpriced.

Sydney to Central $17.40 (Opal)
Brisbane to Central $19.50

These airports are taking commission from these trains. Contrast to some services from overseas.

Heathrow Airport - Central London ~$10 (by tube) - the other rip off services like Heathrow Express make commission
Chicago O'Hare ~$8
Zurich Airport ~$10
Copenhagen Airport ~$8
San Francisco ~$15

If you walk the one stop to Mascot, (which I and many others do), Mascot to Central $2.52

[PeFe]

You don't need to walk to Mascot train station from Sydney airport....there are 2 buses that do the trip, 400 or 420.

With the Opal card rebate that brings the total price to around $3-30.

And to keep the airport train fares comparison going Paris CDG to central Paris $20.

[Patrick_27]

This is a contract by the airport for on-ground transport, not the state government contracting buses to the airport. Completely different things.

I realise this, but read my original comment. With this announcement from the AAL, how long before the state government see an opportunity to free up the buses used for Jetbus services by palming off city-to-airport transport to a private consortium? It won't be viable, but they'll probably try it anyway,

[SBD]

You guys are talking about transport into the city. Wasn't the press release only about the bus to the stand-off aircraft, and the bus to the long-term car park. Does Adelaide Airport's contractor really charge the passengers for these trips?

[adelaide transport]

no.

[rev]

You guys are talking about transport into the city. Wasn't the press release only about the bus to the stand-off aircraft, and the bus to the long-term car park. Does Adelaide Airport's contractor really charge the passengers for these trips?

Skybus in Melbourne charges you to go from the airport to Southern Cross station, and then onto your hotel.
They pick you up from most hotels in Melbourne and take you back to the airport as well.

Some say it's a rip off. I say it's a bloody brilliant service and very convenient. Many hotels will even book it for you when you're departing.
$36.50 for a two way ticket (airport to city, city to airport).
Or go pay $50~ each way for a taxi.
Uber is $46-59 each way.

Some say it will kill the idea of a tram from the CBD to the airport. How?
Again, Melbourne which has the full Skybus service operating airport-city, is building a train line from the city to the airport.

The problem isn't Skybus, the problem is the state Liberal government we have imo.

[SRW]

People are really struggling with reading comprehension here. Skybus will only be delivering airside, shuttle services not city connections. Although why the airport feels the need to outsource such basic operations is an interesting question.

[OlympusAnt]

People are really struggling with reading comprehension here. Skybus will only be delivering airside, shuttle services not city connections. Although why the airport feels the need to outsource such basic operations is an interesting question.

Yeah that is very interesting indeed. There's only 2 shuttle buses anyway - long term parking and Rex.

Maybe the cost of hiring 2 drivers for the year is too much for 'em. Either that or they want to look "green" with the electric buses.

[SBD]

People are really struggling with reading comprehension here. Skybus will only be delivering airside, shuttle services not city connections. Although why the airport feels the need to outsource such basic operations is an interesting question.

Yeah that is very interesting indeed. There's only 2 shuttle buses anyway - long term parking and Rex.

Maybe the cost of hiring 2 drivers for the year is too much for 'em. Either that or they want to look "green" with the electric buses.

The electric buses is part of the airport's "green" push. The reason to outsource them would simply be that it is necessary, but not part of the airport's core business. I can't say I've paid attention, but it wouldn't surprise me to find that cleaning and security might be outsourced to experts in those fields too. I don't know why running the car park appears to have remained in-house.