WFS ramps up sustainability in Spain

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) is continuing to reduce emissions at the seven airports at which it provides cargo and ground handling services in Spain, as part of its global ‘Our Sustainable Flight Path’ programme.

WFS said 89% of its cargo handling-related ground support equipment (GSE) fleet in Spain is now electric; its ramp handling equipment in the country is 30% electric. This includes electric towing tractors, passenger stairs and belt loaders, aircraft pushback tugs and other heavy-duty vehicles.

WFS Spain’s Going Green Team is also testing new green GSE and working with start-up companies to assess the possibility of introducing new types of electrically powered equipment, devices and vehicles as well as converting engines to hydrogen.

Plus, since fossil fuel-powered vehicles cannot be eliminated in the short-term, the handler is partnering with Spanish firm O3-Protégelo to use its patented technology to reduce fuel consumption and emissions whilst longer term solutions are evaluated.

WFS Spain’s airport stations in Barcelona, Madrid, Asturias, Santiago de Compostela, Sevilla, Valencia, and Vitoria are the latest in the handler’s global network to be powered by 100% renewable energy. It has achieved this through the incorporation of energy solutions in new-build facilities, the installation of solar panels on the roofs of existing handling centre, and a contract with green energy supplier Plenitude.

A number of other initiatives are under way, including he implementation of LED lighting in the company’s warehouses in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia; the use of recycled plastics to cover ULDs; and improved usage of equipment, including through tracking and pooling schemes.

“When it comes to sustainability, actions speak louder than words. WFS has set out a very clear sustainability strategy for its global operations and, in Spain, we are already at an advanced stage of delivering many of these targets through our strong green focus, our ability to invest in the best solutions, and the support of our teams across all our Spanish operations, who understand why this is so important and what they can do to contribute,” said Humberto Castro, managing director of WFS Spain.

“We are continuing to move forward in all our focus areas and learning from the sustainability experiences of other WFS stations around the world. Our goal is to not only achieve our decarbonisation targets at our existing operations in Spain, but to have the opportunity to leverage the value of our sustainability programme at more airports across the country,” he added.