dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider, announced the addition of 24 electric tugs to its ground support equipment (GSE) fleet at São Paulo International Airport (GRU). The new, advanced vehicles represent an investment of US$ 1.7 million, demonstrating the company’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
The electric tugs will be integral in dnata Brazil’s operations, ensuring the smooth delivery of baggage between airline customers’ aircraft and the GRU airport terminal. dnata’s latest fleet upgrade is expected to prevent the release of over 420 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, equivalent to over 1.7 million kilometres driven by an average petrol-powered car.
Phil McGrane, CEO of dnata Brazil, said: “We are proud to enhance our offering with a significant investment in our electric fleet. Our new vehicles will help us continue to deliver the highest level of service and safety, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout our ramp operations.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners to further improve environmental efficiency in the Brazilian aviation industry. This includes strong collaboration with the infrastructure providers, whose investment is crucial for advancing the electrification of GSE fleets."
As one of Brazil’s leading ground services providers, dnata operates at 29 airports in the country. It serves more than 15 airlines with a team of 5,000 local aviation professionals, handling over 200,000 aircraft turnarounds annually.
dnata consistently invests in its modern fleet to improve environmental efficiency globally. Its fleet strategy commits to phasing out diesel-operated engines and switching to hybrid, electric, or hydrogen wherever airports have provided the necessary infrastructure.
dnata also maintains a strong focus on minimising fuel consumption. It monitors the consumption of fuel across its fleet of ground support equipment (GSE) using Vehicle Tracking Management systems; conducts logistics mapping exercises to ensure minimal distances are travelled airside; and optimises shifts and parking slots to avoid excessive fuel burn.
In addition, it tracks the behaviour of drivers, including idling times, and has key performance indicators linked to the environmental management system. dnata promotes more responsible driver behaviour through education, awareness and training.
dnata has recently reported significant improvements across key environmental performance metrics for the financial year 2023-24. The company cut the carbon intensity of its operations by over 8%, 22% and 26% across its airport operations, travel and catering businesses, respectively. All data has been validated by Verifavia, an independent accredited environmental verification and auditing body.
dnata is a leading global air and travel services provider. Established in 1959, the company offers quality and safe ground handling, cargo, travel, catering and retail services in over 30 countries across six continents. In the financial year 2023-24, dnata’s customer-oriented teams handled over 778,000 aircraft turns, moved 2.9 million tonnes of cargo, uplifted 123 million meals, and recorded a total transaction value (TTV) of travel services of US$ 2.4 billion.
