Loganair has achieved its first all-electric turnaround of an aircraft, as part of moves to decarbonise its ground operations.
The turnaround comprises a range of tasks to prepare a flight for departing after it has landed, such as disembarking and boarding passengers, unloading and loading luggage or cargo, cleaning, catering and refuelling.
The milestone took place at Stornoway Airport in the Outer Hebrides and follows Loganair’s £2m investment in new ground handling technology.
The airline is acquiring almost 100 new pieces of ground equipment across its operation, including electric baggage tractors, electric luggage belts, solar-powered boarding ramps and hybrid ground power units.
The power units provide power to aircraft while they are parked at the gate, allowing crews to switch off their engines and reduce fuel consumption.
Once fully incorporated across Loganair’s ground operations in the Highlands and Islands, the new equipment should mitigate the need for over 70,000 litres of diesel annually.
Electric ground handling is the latest initiative to be adopted by the airline as part of its GreenSkies environmental programme.
Launched in 2021, GreenSkies saw Loganair introduce a range of measures to progress its ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2040, including a small mandatory charge on all fares to invest in accredited global carbon offsetting schemes.
It also introduced the GreenSkies Community Fund, which provides grants to establish local renewables projects, while the airline is also on track to renew its fleet by the end of this summer.
Loganair’s new ATR turboprops support a 27% reduction in carbon emissions per seat, compared with the Saab 340 aircraft they are replacing.
Maurice Boyle, chief operations officer at Loganair, said: “We are incredibly proud of this historic moment in Loganair’s operations and the contribution it will make to our GreenSkies pledge to become carbon neutral by 2040.
“Our new electric equipment replaces diesel-powered machinery, reducing our use of fossil fuels but also creating a much cleaner and user-friendly working environment for our staff.
“Being first out the block is a great achievement for our Stornoway staff, and great for the island community.”
Following Stornoway, airports in Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Benbecula will soon get the new electric ground equipment, with the last remaining pieces of diesel-powered ground equipment being phased out by the end of this summer.
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