The operator has invested in a fleet of new hybrid buses to enhance capacity on its routes between Leeds Bradford Airport and neighbouring towns and cities
Yorkshire operator Transdev has rolled out the first of its new £3.5 million fleet of 15 new Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid buses onto its Flyer-branded network which links Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and Otley with Leeds Bradford Airport’s expanded terminal building.
The first of the new buses entered service on 3 July on the three dedicated Flyer routes as part of Transdev’s plan to deliver more capacity, better accessibility and lower emissions. Journeys on the routes run up to every 30 minutes with departures from early morning until late at night.
The new Citaros offer more space, says Transdev, with 39 seats plus room for up to 31 standing to give a combined capacity of up to 70 compared with 54 on its current fleet of 2016 Optare Versas, which Transdev has operated on the route since 2020. Mercedes-Benz also predicts that its hybrid power solution will deliver an 8.5% reduction in fuel consumption. Transdev Managing Director Henri Rohard said: “We are delighted to introduce our new hybrid buses to our Flyer-branded bus network, at a significant time for travel to the airport with the new terminal building extension now open to customers.
“Our investment in the most up-to-date hybrid technology is providing a full aviation designed and dedicated fleet to Leeds Bradford Airport, giving airline customers, our customers in general and our colleagues a much more comfortable, accessible and environmentally friendly journey than ever before.
“On board each new bus is a full package of customer comfort features, including next stop information displays including a screen facing the dedicated wheelchair space, and a hearing loop system to make communication easier for customers with a hearing disability. There’s also fast and free on-board Wi-Fi and USB charging, plus the latest pedestrian and cyclist detection systems to make the roads safer for everyone.
“Each new bus also has plentiful luggage space, reflecting our FLYER buses’ role in taking thousands of business and leisure travellers to connect with flights. We look forward to welcoming our existing and new customers to our fleet.”
CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) Vincent Hodder added: “We’re delighted to welcome the new hybrid offering to the Flyer fleet at LBA. These bespoke hybrid vehicles will not only provide our customers with a more comfortable journey to the airport, but they also use less fuel than their traditional counterparts. In turn, this helps to play an important role in reducing our Scope 3 emissions, and supports our journey to Net Zero.”
The buses are equipped with a 14kW electric motor, used for generating energy when coasting and braking, which is then used to assist the engine when pulling away, and are fitted with blind spot detection, traffic sign monitoring and electronic tyre pressure reporting devices.
Transdev says it expects to continue the roll-out of the new fleet in the coming weeks until all 15 new vehicles are in service.
