SATS, SIA Engineering, and Changi Airport Group to Trial Autonomous Buses at Changi Airport

SATS Airport Services Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of SATS Ltd, SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC), and Changi Airport Group (CAG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate a proof of concept (POC) for autonomous buses to transport airport staff around Changi Airport’s airside.

Pioneering Autonomous Transport

Project Details

The two-year collaboration, set to begin in the third quarter of 2024, is co-funded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)’s Aviation Development Fund (ADF). The project aims to support Singapore’s Smart Nation vision, which leverages technology to improve various sectors including transport.

Phased Implementation

The POC will assess the self-driving capabilities of the autonomous buses in two phases. Initially, the buses will operate in a sterile environment before moving to a live operational setting. An on-board safety driver will monitor the trials to ensure safety and operational efficiency.

Enhancing Airside Operations

Henry Low, Chief Operating Officer SATS and CEO-designate SATS Singapore Hub, stated: “SATS is excited to partner CAG and SIAEC to trial the use of autonomous buses for airside staff transport. This initiative provides an opportunity to develop the operating model for autonomous bus deployment in a live environment and gather valuable data and learnings for future scalability.”

This initiative is part of Changi Airport’s broader effort to automate routine driving tasks, allowing airside professionals to focus on more complex activities. It also presents opportunities for job redesign and upskilling, encouraging the wider development of autonomous solutions to enhance airside manpower productivity.

Collaborative Innovation

Foo Kean Shuh, Executive Vice President Operations and Chief Sustainability Officer, SIA Engineering Company, commented: “We are pleased to collaborate with SATS, CAG, and CAAS to transform staff mobility at the airside. Advancing digitalisation and technology adoption is a key priority for SIAEC. This trial will help us understand technology aspects and future operations concepts to fulfill staff transportation needs.”

Future Prospects

Yeo Kia Thye, Managing Director, Airport Operations Control, Changi Airport Group, added: “CAG is excited to be on this innovation journey with our airport partners to trial the use of autonomous buses on the airside. This complements ongoing automation trials to drive greater manpower productivity across our airport operations. We look forward to collaborating on further innovation trials towards our vision of an airport of the future.”

Broader Impact

SATS Group and its global affiliates are also investing in various POCs for autonomous guided vehicles, including automated airside cargo transportation and forklifts in airport operations and cargo terminals in Europe. These initiatives underscore the group's commitment to transforming aviation hub handling through digitalisation and automation.