Air India has signed an agreement with KSU Aviation to launch TaxiBot operations at Delhi and Bengaluru airports.
The arrangement covers the carrier's A320 fleet and is part of what it said is its "commitment to reducing its carbon footprint".
The TaxiBot tows the aircraft after it lands and before it takes off, meaning the engines do not need to be used, in turn offering "a potential saving of ~15,000 tonnes in fuel consumption over three years".
According to the carrier, the robot "acts as an extension of the aircraft’s nose landing gear and is used to tow aircraft from terminal gate to the taxi-out point and to tow aircraft from the terminal gate after landing"
“As a responsible airline, Air India is constantly looking for ways to improve sustainability and manage our carbon footprint. The deployment of TaxiBots is one more example of our commitment to reduce emissions and fuel consumption," said Air India chief executive and managing director Campbell Wilson.
"This collaboration with KSU will allow us to better assess the capabilities of TaxiBots, and potentially lead to greater deployment across Air India’s subsidiaries and other airports," Wilson said.
“We are excited about the formal induction of TaxiBot as part of Air India’s focused approach to address its carbon footprint," said Ashwani Khanna, KSU Aviation director. "Air India is undergoing a massive transformation and has adopted sustainable practices as an integral part of this journey. We are committed to partner with like-minded organisations like Air India to leverage modern day technology in reducing carbon footprint and accelerate the pursuit of being net zero," Khanna added.