Passenger Service Begins at Rotterdam The Hague Airport
Rotterdam, Netherlands – July 11, 2025 — The Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, automated by ADASTEC, has officially entered service as Europe’s first RDW-approved full-size SAE Level-4 automated airport bus service. Passenger operations will begin on Friday, August 1, at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTHA). Operating under Bus Line 533, the service provides a reliable, accessible, and sustainable connection between Meijersplein Metro Station and the airport terminal. The first demonstration ride with invited guests was completed during the official launch event held on July 11.
For the first time in Europe, SAE Level-4 automated buses are now being introduced into daily airport operations. Each vehicle combines Karsan’s Autonomous e-ATAK with ADASTEC’s automated driving software platform, delivering advanced automated driving capabilities, sophisticated perception systems, and seamless integration with airport infrastructure.
Each bus accommodates at least 20 passengers with luggage, features full wheelchair accessibility, and operates on public roads. The service complements existing Bus Line 33 and is the result of a strong collaboration between RET, DAM Shuttles, the Municipality of Rotterdam, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, HTM and the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam-The Hague (MRDH).
“Receiving approval from RDW to operate a full-size SAE Level-4 automated bus at an international airport is an exceptional milestone,” said Dr. Ali Peker, CEO of ADASTEC. “We are honored to be the first to achieve this in the Netherlands. This deployment reflects our long-standing commitment to developing real-world automated mobility solutions that are safe, inclusive, and scalable. We sincerely thank all our partners, including Karsan, DAM Shuttles, RET, the Municipality of Rotterdam, RTHA and MRDH, for their trust and collaboration in making this possible.”
At the launch event held on July 11, guests, including the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, representatives from local government and transportation authorities, experienced the route firsthand. They observed how the automated bus adapts to real-time conditions using a combination of high-precision sensors and intelligent software designed for the complexities of airport transportation.
“We continue to achieve firsts with Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK. With this project at RotterdamAirport, we have launched the world’s first autonomous airport bus operation.This project clearly shows that autonomous mobility is no longer just a vision of the future, but a concrete transportation solution of today.” said Okan Baş, CEO of Karsan.
The automated bus deployed at RTHA is the latest addition to a growing network of deployments across more than 12 countries, serving a wide range of environments including city streets, university campuses, industrial zones, and now, for the first time, an international airport.
“We’ve already proven the value of our platform across different countries and use cases,” added Dr. Peker. “This deployment confirms that we’re ready to lead the adoption of automated transit in airport environments and to support other airports that are ready to make the shift with safe and efficient mobility solutions.”
“We are very happy and proud that we have reached this milestone. The journey to get to this moment sometimes felt like a cat with nine lives. We strongly believe that this development will improve public transport and we have a sound business case for it” said Remco Derksen, Co-Founder and Director of DAM Shuttles.
With this launch, Rotterdam The Hague Airport becomes a model for how airport mobility can evolve through automated public transportation. Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK automated by ADASTEC continue to prove the scalability and readiness of their technology, delivering trusted solutions that meet the complex demands of today’s transit environments.