Air Canada has announced Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) will be the airline’s first station with fully electric main ground support equipment (GSE). This transition will be carried out by the end of 2025, underpinning Air Canada’s aim of thirty percent greenhouse gas (GHG) net reductions from ground operations by 2030, compared to statistics from 2019.
Air Canada’s Announcement
To mark the start of Earth Month, Air Canada has announced that its ground operations in Québec City YQB will be the first to achieve full electrification of its main GSE. This marks a transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy with electricity used to power all baggage and ramp tractors, belt loaders, power stows, container loaders and aircraft tractors.
Stéphane Poirier, President and CEO of YQB, said:
“The electrification of Air Canada’s ground operations at YQB represents a concrete and significant step in reducing the impact of airport ground activities on the environment. This project was made possible thanks to close collaboration between our teams, and is perfectly in line with our commitment to reduce the environmental footprint of our operations, as well as to provide the support and tools necessary for our airline partners to achieve their GHG reduction objectives. We are proud that YQB is the first Air Canada station to take this important step towards environmental sustainability.”
Echoing these sentiments, Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Québec City, said:
“Québec City is delighted with this initiative, which makes our airport the first Air Canada station in the country to electrify its main ground support equipment. This transition testifies to the commitment of our institutions and companies to innovate while taking into account current and future energy concerns. We are proud to see YQB, a strategic hub, support the evolution of the air transport industry and actively participate in initiatives aimed at reducing our environmental footprint.”
The shift to electric ground support equipment (eGSE) supports Air Canada’s Leave Less initiative, which is in response to the modern climate crisis. The airline has established long-term targets of twenty percent GHG net reductions from its air operations and thirty percent GHG net reductions from its ground operations by 2030. Both use figures from 2019 as a baseline.
Air Canada are notably dedicated to their environmental commitment. The airline has been retiring and replacing older fossil-fuel powered GSE across Canada over the last few years. As a result, Air Canada currently has over nine-hundred pieces of electric ground support equipment, representing thirty-five percent of the GSE fleet across all categories.
In addition to these efforts, Air Canada works closely with manufacturers to evaluate emerging technologies that can aid in reducing carbon emissions. The new eGSEs also lower costs of spare parts, maintenance and fuel.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, providing direct service to over 180 airports across the country. The airline serves as Canada’s flag carrier and is a founding member of the world’s first and most established global airline alliance, Star Alliance.
Air Canada also schedules flights to the United States and internationally across six continents. Through Air Canada Vacations, the airline offers more travel choices around the world than any other Canadian tour operator. Air Canada Cargo – the airline’s freight division – also provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of global destinations.
What do you think about Air Canada and Québec City’s first step towards electric ground support equipment? Should other airlines and stations follow this example? Let us know.
