Local bus operator Stagecoach Bluebird has today confirmed the 727 route operated between the city and the airport will soon be operated using a new fleet of fully electric buses.
The £11.2 million investment in 22 electric buses for Aberdeen has been supported by £4 million from the Scottish Government Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme.
The fleet of 22 electric buses will be based at the Tullos depot and will bring a breath of fresh air to high frequency routes in Aberdeen including the popular 727 Aberdeen Airport service.
The double deck buses will be built at the Alexander Dennis factory in Falkirk before arriving in Aberdeen. Not only will the fleet reduce CO2 levels in the city but they are also low-floor easy-access and will be fitted with eleather seats – a material made entirely from recycled leather.
Service 727 connecting the city centre to P&J Live and Aberdeen Airport will soon be operated by the electric fleet. Service 727 operates up to every 10 minutes through the week and was also crowned the ‘Best Bus Service in Scotland’ in 2017.
Peter Knight, Managing Director at Stagecoach Bluebird, said: “We are all really excited to welcome the electric buses to our Aberdeen fleet. Sustainable transport is critical to the future of our planet: decarbonising local journeys, reducing road congestion, improving air quality and tackling climate change.
"Travelling by bus, when we can, is one of the easiest ways to address climate change through carbon reduction of our own journeys.
“Major investment in new zero-emission buses also needs to be matched by better road infrastructure and more bus priority measures to help encourage people to make the switch from car to sustainable public transport.”
Mark Beveridge, Operations Director at Aberdeen Airport, said: “The news that Stagecoach will introduce new electric buses to the popular 727 service between the city centre and the airport is a welcome move.
“Earlier this summer we set out our own Sustainability Strategy with the ambitious target to decarobonise our own infrastructure by mid 2030s and support the wider aviation sector to achieve net zero by 2045.
“To do this will require collective effort throughout the wider transport industry and it is through partnership working such as this that we can respond to the most fundamental challenge of our time – the climate emergency.”
The electric buses are set to join the Stagecoach Bluebird fleet early in 2022. Scotland’s Climate Week (13th – 19th Sept) marks six weeks to go until the 26th UN Climate Change Conference - COP26.
To find out more about Aberdeen International Airport's Sustainability Strategy here.