On 29 January, Swissport completed an e-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 ground support equipment, marking a first in Switzerland. This milestone underlines 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.
Swissport conducted the first complete aircraft turnaround in Swiss aviation using only electric ground support equipment (GSE), covering passenger disembarking and boarding, baggage and cargo handling, and aircraft servicing, allowing for lower CO2 emissions and a seamless turnaround operation. The use of fully electric ground support equipment (GSE) – including baggage tractors, aircraft pushback tractor, passenger boarding stairs and conveyor belt loaders – illustrates Swissport’s targeted measures to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring operational efficiency, punctuality and full compliance with applicable safety regulations.
Investing in sustainable operations
Swissport’s ongoing investments focus on the electrification of its GSE fleet to reduce environmental impact. 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.
“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”, says Bruno Stefani, CEO of Switzerland, Italy & France.
Driving decarbonisation through science-based targets
Swissport’s emissions reduction targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), provide a robust operational foundation for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement. The company is leading investment in ground support equipment (GSE) electrification, with 26% of its approximately 14,600-unit global motorised fleet now fully electric, targeting 55% by 2032. 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, reinforcing its position as the only aviation services provider worldwide to achieve this recognition in sustainability performance and placing it among the top 1% of companies assessed globally.
