For travelers relaxing in the business class lounges of most major airports, the intricate dance of service vehicles between arriving and departing aircraft can be a constant source of entertainment. A swarm of tugs, caterers, fuel trucks, baggage loaders, buses and delivery trucks constantly circle the tarmac during most operating hours.
With the pandemic-related surge in travel and increasing sensitivity to aviation’s carbon footprint, the industry is turning its attention to the carbon emissions of these ground operations to meet climate goals for the coming decades. These initiatives are getting a boost from the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Reauthorization Act in March.
Photo: Detroit International Airport. Courtesy of Hanson-Lu / Unsplash
“The recent passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 provides a significant opportunity to advance sustainable transportation options in the aviation sector,” writes Will Handke, senior adviser at the nonprofit Center for Transportation and the Environment. “Importantly, the law prioritizes airports that develop comprehensive zero-emission vehicle and equipment management plans.”
The push towards sustainability
Several sections of the law expand the scope of projects eligible for airport improvement funds to promote facility sustainability and environmental impact, including the acquisition of low-emission vehicles, the development of low-emission fuel systems, and related air quality improvements.
“Traditionally, the aviation industry’s carbon footprint calculations do not take into account ground handling and passenger transportation, but rather in-flight emissions,” says David Michery, CEO and chairman of commercial electric vehicle manufacturer Mullen Automotive. “However, it is encouraging that the sector and its stakeholders are increasingly recognizing the significant environmental impacts of ground operations.”
Photo: Terminal TBIT. Courtesy of Los Angeles International Airport / Joshua Sudock
Last year, Mullen signed a partnership with British Airways to introduce the Campus EV vans to the airline’s operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Michery says. The pilot program at LAX “demonstrated an 83 percent reduction in carbon emissions compared to gasoline-powered vehicles,” he says.
In addition to pilot programs using electric ground handling vehicles at LAX and ORD, British Airways has announced a multi-million pound investment in more sustainable ground equipment at London Heathrow (LHR). The airline says the program will gradually transition to zero-emission or hybrid equipment, including buses, baggage tugs, cargo loading vehicles and aircraft stairs.
Photo: London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5. Photo courtesy of BAA Airports Limited.
Tom Moran, Heathrow Director at British Airways, said: “This major investment in our vehicles at Heathrow Airport is our largest investment to date in more sustainable ground operations at the airport and part of our wider environmental goal to minimise emissions from our ground operations at the airport level.”
Electrifying possibilities
While airlines and aircraft manufacturers continue to grapple with the enormous technical challenges of reducing emissions during flight operations, the transition to more sustainable ground operations is one area where aviation can make significant progress towards carbon neutrality.
The reason for this, according to Handke, is the high level of vehicle usage in the relatively concentrated space of an airport. “Airports now offer an excellent opportunity to electrify ground vehicles,” he says, pointing out that these vehicles are operated by trained personnel and share maintenance and refueling facilities in a limited space.
Photo: Courtesy of Ryuno Ba / Unsplash
“In addition,” Handke adds, “airport vehicles operate 24/7, making them some of the most emissions-intensive vehicles in the United States. These unique characteristics of airport vehicles enable the rapid and cost-effective implementation of zero-emissions transition plans.”
Michery points out that deploying an all-electric airport vehicle fleet requires a significant initial investment, but the long-term operational savings from reduced fuel consumption and maintenance can offset the initial costs. However, a successful transition to more sustainable ground operations starts with effective airport infrastructure planning.
Achieving this will require a collaborative approach, says Michery. “Airports, ground handling providers and vehicle manufacturers must work together to invest in charging infrastructure and grid improvements that foster an electric vehicle ecosystem.”
