All-Electric Ground Handling by Wizz Air and Menzies Aviation

The ground handling of some of Wizz Air flights at Liszt Ferenc International Airport of the Hungarian capital will now be carried out by its leading service partner Menzies Aviation using fully electric equipment, the airline informed MTI on Monday.

According to the statement, compared to diesel-powered equipment, fully electric ground handling can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% per aircraft.

The London-based company is a leading service partner for airports and airlines worldwide, operating in more than 255 airports on six continents in more than 60 countries. It serves more than four million flights a year and handles over two million tons of cargo.

According to the company's sustainability manager Katy Reid, Menzies Aviation's goal is to be carbon neutral by 2045 and collaboration with Wizz Air and Budapest Airport is key to achieving this.

Wizz Air is the first airline at Budapest Airport to fully electrify its ground handling operations and is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by a further 25% by 2030, the statement quoted Wizz Air's sustainability director Yvonne Moynihan as saying.

Wizz Air operates 14 narrow-body Airbus A321neo aircraft in Budapest, which offer significant environmental benefits: noise and nitrogen oxide emissions are almost 50% lower and carbon dioxide emissions are 20% lower compared to the previous type, it said.

Mike Carlson, Budapest Airport's Deputy Chief Financial Officer, said in a statement that Budapest Airport has reduced its operational emissions by 65% in ten years and currently has 43 charging car parks for more than 100 electric ground support vehicles.