Swissport invests €1.5 billion to build world’s largest electric GSE fleet
The rollout is advancing rapidly at key hubs. In Switzerland, electrification rates at Zurich, Basel, and Geneva airports already stand at 43 per cent, 51.4 per cent, and 59.4 per cent, respectively, with all three airports targeting the 55 per cent benchmark by the end of 2025. At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Swissport’s GSE fleet has been fully electric since February 2025. In the UK, the company has doubled its eGSE footprint across Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton over the past two years.
The Zurich-based aviation services provider says it already operates the world’s largest GSE fleet, comprising around 14,500 motorised units, and aims for 55 per cent electrification by 2032. Just in the last 18 months, Swissport has purchased more than 1,000 new hybrid and electric vehicles for deployment in 28 countries. These include electric baggage tractors, belt loaders, passenger steps, and pushback tractors, sourced under long-term agreements with top-tier manufacturers to ensure reliable operational performance.
According to the company, the shift to electric GSE not only cuts CO₂ and particulate emissions but also delivers operational benefits such as reduced maintenance costs, quieter operation, improved safety, and potential for greater automation.
Warwick Brady, President & CEO of Swissport International, emphasises: “We are delivering on our sustainability commitments with concrete actions. This investment in eco-tech is a decisive step and reflects our industry-leading position on sustainability and innovation. Over the next five years we will be building the world’s largest electric GSE fleet.”
Already last year, Swissport announced that it would mandate the purchase of several electric ground handling vehicle models starting this year. Moreover, from 2027 onwards, it intends to procure only electric ground handling vehicles without exception, subject to “availability of the required equipment and the development of sufficient charging infrastructure at airports.”
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