Transdev Blazefield has introduced the first Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid to its Flyer routes that serve Leeds Bradford Airport.
15 of those vehicles were ordered in 2024 for use on three services. They will add overall capacity to the trio and displace the current Optare Versa fleet that dates from 2016 and 2017.
The Citaro uses a mild hybrid system to reduce fuel consumption by up to 8.5% over a diesel equivalent, with UK supplier Daimler Buses UK having reported earlier in 2025 that it continues to see a market for that product.
Addition of the hybrid Citaro to the Transdev Blazefield fleet complements the delivery of battery-electric eCitaro models to other operations in Yorkshire. The remainder of the 15 hybrids will be deployed “in the coming weeks,” the operator says.
The Flyer vehicles come with what Managing Director Henri Rohard calls “a full package of customer comfort features” that include next-stop announcements with a hearing loop, wi-fi and USB charging points along with plentiful luggage space.
“Our investment in the most up-to-date hybrid technology is providing a full aviation designed and dedicated fleet to Leeds Bradford Airport, giving airline customers, our customers in general and our colleagues a much more comfortable, accessible and environmentally friendly journey than ever before.”
Leeds Bradford Airport CEO Vincent Hodder has also welcomed the new buses. “These bespoke hybrid vehicles will not only provide our customers with a more comfortable journey to the airport, but they also use less fuel than their traditional counterparts,” he says.
“In turn this helps us to play an important role in reducing our Scope 3 emissions, and supports our journey to net-zero.”
The Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid utilises supercapacitors and a 14kW electric motor to reduce the engine load when accelerating to deliver a fuel saving. That package is virtually maintenance-free.
