DHL Express has announced plans to invest in electric ground support equipment over three years for its operations at East Midlands Airport.
The logistics company has committed £16mn towards electric GSE (e-GSE) vehicles as it aims to make its airport ground handling operation fully electric by 2032.
The new equipment includes 28 electric tugs, five electric ‘nose lifter’ vehicles which lift aircrafts to push them back from their parking stands, five high-loaders and six electric belt-loaders to loose load shipments.
James Neill, vice president of operations at DHL’s East Midlands Airport hub, said: “We are excited to be making this investment in our operations at EMA and showcase our commitment to using the latest green innovations.
“As well as making progress in reducing emissions resulting directly from flights and aviation fuel, it’s important that we’re looking at every aspect of our operation to make gains everywhere we can.”
Steve Griffiths, the airport’s managing director, added: “DHL’s investment is a positive development as we, as an industry, take steps to decarbonise.
“We’re committed to becoming a net zero airport by 2038 and innovations like DHL’s help move us a step closer to that goal.
“As the UK’s largest pure air cargo hub, the port of East Midlands Freeport, an early adopter of green innovation in the aviation industry and a site with further untapped potential, I believe there is a bright future for us.”
The investment in e-GSE is part of a wider commitment to making DHL’s International Express operation more sustainable and follows recent major announcements such as its investment in sustainable aviation fuel and the addition of new fuel-efficient 777 Freighters.
To drive further improvements to its airport ground-handling operation, the logistics giant is investing an additional £7mn in replacing and enhancing non-electric GSE such as de-icing rigs.
