Düsseldorf Airport trials remote-controlled electric shuttles for passengers

Düsseldorf Airport will soon test remote-controlled passenger shuttles as part of a new pilot project. Starting in May, two small electric vehicles will carry travellers along a 2.5-kilometre route in the airport's public zones. The initiative is a joint effort between Rheinmetall's subsidiary Mira and local transport operator Rheinbahn. The shuttles will operate on demand, with passengers booking rides in advance via an app. Instead of a driver, a teleoperator will steer the vehicles from a workstation. A safety driver will still sit inside during the trial but will not take control unless necessary.

The project aims to reduce staffing costs by allowing one operator to manage two shuttles in staggered shifts. Rheinbahn board member Annette Grabbe highlighted the financial and personnel pressures facing public transport. She stressed that new technologies must prove their practical benefits for passengers. The trial will assess system reliability, passenger reactions, and economic feasibility in real traffic. Mira CEO Win Neidlinger described the project as a key step toward moving teleoperation from testing to everyday use in public transport. The operating licence was granted under older regulations, which still require a safety driver on board. Similar trials are underway at other airports. Zurich Airport is testing a self-driving shuttle bus, while Teesside International Airport began trials of a driverless bus in August 2025, with full operation expected by 2026. Leipzig/Halle Airport also plans to introduce Level-4 autonomous shuttles soon.

The pilot will run with a safety driver present, meaning passengers will not travel completely unaccompanied. If successful, the system could offer a cost-effective solution for airport transport. The results will help determine whether remote-controlled shuttles can become a permanent feature in public transit.