Handler achieves milestone with electric equipment covering passenger operations, baggage, cargo and aircraft servicing at Geneva facility
Swissport has achieved a decarbonisation first in Switzerland by completing a ground handling operation using 100% electric ground support equipment (GSE).
On 29 January, Swissport completed a fully electric aircraft turnaround for a Brussels Airlines aircraft at Geneva Airport. From landing to take-off, the entire Swissport ground handling operation for the aircraft was completed using fully electric GSE.
Swissport's electric handling operation covered passenger disembarking and boarding, baggage and cargo handling, and aircraft servicing. Electric equipment included baggage tractors, an aircraft pushback tractor, passenger boarding stairs and conveyor belt loaders.
This milestone aligns with Swissport’s global commitment to decarbonising its ground operations on its pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050, including the objective to electrify 55% of its worldwide ground support equipment fleet by 2032.
In July last year, Swissport declared that 25% of its global GSE fleet was electric. Currently, 26% of its approximately 14,600-unit global motorised fleet is fully electric.
At Geneva airport, over 60% of Swissport’s GSE fleet is already electric, including all baggage tractors and more than half of baggage belt loaders, ground power units, passenger boarding stairs and cars.
Since 2024, Swissport has invested more than 3MCHF in electric ground support equipment in Geneva only.
Bruno Stefani, chief executive of Switzerland, Italy & France, said: “As leading airport ground handling provider, we are committed to actively contribute to the decarbonisation of the aviation sector. In Switzerland, we are pioneers with more than 50% of our ground support equipment fleet already electrified.
"Working closely with our partners, airlines and airport infrastructure providers, every step we take in electrifying our fleet helps reduce emissions and supports a more sustainable future for air travel. Thanks to our strategic investments and operational expertise, Swissport continues to set the standard for sustainable ground handling."
Swissport said its emissions reduction targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), provide an operational foundation for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.
Swissport also actively participates in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), supporting transparent environmental reporting across the aviation value chain. In addition, Swissport has retained the EcoVadis Platinum medal for the second consecutive year.
