Western Sydney's New Airport Signs Up for Australia's First Electric Ground Equipment Pool

Western Sydney International Airport has partnered with equipment provider Freightquip to launch what the pair describe as Australia's first airport wide ground support equipment pooling program, with the fleet running predominantly on electric power.

Freightquip will supply and operate the equipment, which includes belt loaders, cargo loaders, baggage tractors and pushback vehicles used to move aircraft, luggage and freight around the tarmac. Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.

Built electric from day one

Because Western Sydney International is a new build rather than an existing airport being upgraded, the operators were able to design electric charging and support infrastructure into the site from the start instead of retrofitting it later. The airport says the result is the highest proportion of electric ground support equipment of any airport in Australia.

"GSE pooling was the right model for a new airport, and electrification was the right commitment," said Western Sydney International chief executive Simon Hickey. Freightquip chief operating officer Andrew Steel said the partnership was "a real opportunity to help set a new standard for how airports approach ground operations."

Cutting emissions and noise on the tarmac

Electric ground support equipment produces about 48 percent less carbon dioxide than comparable diesel or petrol powered machines, and cuts noise levels by roughly 5.5 to 8 decibels, according to figures cited by the companies. Freight operations at the airport are due to begin on July 26, with full ground support equipment operations following in October and the first passenger flights scheduled for October 25.