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Western Sydney International Airport has partnered with ground support equipment provider Freightquip to establish the first airport-wide ground support equipment (GSE) pooling program in Australia, with full operations kicking off in October to coincide with the airport's passenger launch date of 25 October.
Under the partnership, Freightquip will supply and operate a predominantly electric GSE fleet across the airport covering belt loaders, cargo loaders, baggage tractors and pushback equipment.
The arrangement will give Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) the highest proportion of electric ground support equipment of any airport nationally, establishing a new benchmark for airport ground operations.
The deal, for which no financial terms have been disclosed, leverages WSI's greenfield status to embed electric-first infrastructure from day one rather than retrofitting existing diesel-powered fleets.
Freight operations at the airport are set to begin from 26 July 2026, ahead of the passenger launch three months later.
"When we set out to design the ground operation at WSI, we knew we had an opportunity to do something that had never been done before, given our status as a greenfield international airport," says Simon Hickey, the airport's CEO.
"GSE pooling was the right model for a new airport, and electrification was the right commitment for the industry.
"After an extensive global search, we’re thrilled to be partnering with Freightquip’s who bring strong experience across the world's leading airports and airlines.
"By combining GSE pooling with a predominantly electric fleet, WSI is modernising ground operations, improving fleet utilisation, safety and ultimately reducing the environmental impact of our operations.”
WSI is the centrepiece of a near-$18 billion government investment in Western Sydney and is forecast to serve up to 10 million passengers annually through the 2030s.
The airport's inaugural master plan projects up to 8,500 airport jobs by the time passenger numbers reach 10 million, while more than 12,800 jobs were created during the construction phase.
The pooling model consolidates ground support equipment under a single operator rather than requiring each airline to maintain its own fleet.
Freightquip will manage the fleet via a centralised digital platform offering real-time visibility, automated dispatch and integration with WSI's flight information system.
"We have deployed and maintained electric GSE fleets across some of the world's leading airports and airlines, and we are genuinely excited to bring that experience to WSI," says Andrew Steel, COO and head of aviation operations at Freightquip.
"This is a real opportunity to help set a new standard for how airports approach ground operations.
"To provide an advanced GSE pooling operation at a brand new airport is something our team is incredibly proud to be part of.
"We see WSI as the beginning of a much bigger shift in how the industry approaches ground operations globally."
International Air Transport Association data indicates electrically powered GSE produces 48 per cent less carbon-dioxide than internal combustion engine equivalents, based on average European Union country electrical generation emissions.
IATA estimates the global ground handling industry could have reduced carbon-dioxide output by 1.8 million tonnes per year at 2019 traffic levels if all GSE were electric. Electric equipment also reduces noise by 5.5 to 8 decibels.
Freightquip brings 25 years of experience in ground support operations with a client base that includes Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand and the Royal Australian Air Force.
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