The 727 bus service that connects the Scottish airport to the city, is set to be operated by an electric fleet

Stagecoach Bluebird has confirmed the 727 route, operated between Aberdeen Airport and the city, will be operated using a new fleet of fully electric buses.

A total of £11.2 million has been invested into the initiative. The project has also been supported with a £4 million subsidy from the Scottish Government Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme.

The electric buses will be based at the Tullos depot and are set to bring a more economical edge to high frequency routes in Aberdeen, including the popular 727 airport service.

The vehicles will be built at the Alexander Dennis factory in Falkirk before arriving in Scottish city. Not only will the fleet reduce levels of CO2 within the city, but they also plan to be low-floor easy-access and will be fitted with pleather seats – a material made entirely from recycled leather.

The 727-service connecting the city centre with the airport will soon be operated by the electric fleet. Service 727 operates up to every 10 minutes throughout the week and was also named ‘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.”

Mark Beveridge, Operations Director at Aberdeen Airport, added: “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 and be fully operational on bus routes by early 2022.