British Airways is leading a groundbreaking initiative to overhaul ground support equipment at Heathrow Airport, aiming to significantly reduce emissions both on the ground and in the air.
Key highlights include:
- Emissions reduction: Over 90% of British Airways’ vehicles and ground equipment at Heathrow now run on zero-emissions electrical equipment, hybrids, or hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), saving over 6,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
- Fuel innovation: Transitioning more than 750 pieces of ground equipment to HVO fuel, saving emissions equivalent to over 8,000 round-trip economy passenger journeys between London Heathrow and JFK.
- Electrification efforts: Phasing out diesel passenger aircraft steps for electric alternatives, reducing emissions by over 370 tonnes of CO2 per year. Diesel-powered cargo handling vehicles are being replaced with hybrid electric models.
- Baggage handling innovations: Introducing 135 new electric baggage tugs, resulting in a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional lead-acid batteries.
- Transition to electric buses: Gradually replacing diesel passenger buses with electric and hybrid models, expected to save 800 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
For more information on British Airways’ sustainability efforts, visit the BA Better World webpage.
