Digital Pulse: Menzies, Wizz Air conduct electric turns at BUD

Airport handler Menzies Aviation is performing fully electric turnarounds at Budapest Airport in collaboration with carrier Wizz Air . Menzies has adopted an “electric first” approach with the goal of using 25% electric ground support equipment (GSE) globally by 2025. Menzies is using electric baggage tractors and belt loaders, passenger steps with solar panels, ground power unit and electric pushback for simultaneous turnarounds for two Wizz Air aircraft, relying on Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport’s (BUD) charging infrastructure, with all energy coming from renewable sources, according to a release from Menzies. [caption id="attachment_57139372" align="alignright" width="300"] Collaboration between Menzies Aviation, Wizz Air and Budapest Airport has allowed for the first all-electric turnaround in Hungary. (Courtesy/Menzies Aviation)[/caption] The electric turns reduce carbon emissions from the ground handling process by around 80% per aircraft when compared to using diesel-powered equipment, according to the release. “We are taking action by switching to electric GSE where possible and using alternative fuels,” Katy Reid , head of sustainability and corporate responsibility at Menzies Aviation, said in the release. “We are proud to have made significant strides, with 41% of our GSE equipment in Europe now electric, and look forward to working closely with industry partners, including suppliers, airlines and airports to advance more environmentally friendly operations.” Budapest-based Wizz Air, which operates 14 Airbus A321neo narrow-bodies, is the first carrier at BUD to offer fully electric turns. Mike Carlson , BUD’s chief financial officer, said in the release, “We have reduced our direct emissions from operations by 65% in 10 years. There are already more than 100 electric ground handling vehicles performing their duties at the airport every day, with 43 charging parking positions available to charge them.” SaaS provider Wiremind to launch forwarder solution Software-as-a-service provider Wiremind announced it will launch SkyPallet 2.0, a dedicated freight forwarder module in early 2024. The SkyPallet platform, which is geared toward carriers, optimizes space calculations in the cargo lifecycle to ensure maximum capacity usage and accurate quotes, according to Wiremind. To create SkyPallet 2.0, the company has been working with forwarders to understand their needs and create a module to address them, according to a release from Wiremind. Though SkyPallet was developed to help carriers optimize space, the platform already assists forwarders to optimize their capacity management processes. Though there is overlap between the needs of forwarders and carriers, there are use cases particular to each, and SkyPallet 2.0 is meant to address those cases applicable to forwarders. For example, when planning shipments, forwarders must determine the capacity needed from a carrier, and forwarders’ transport management systems differ from those used by carriers. “We have collaborated with freight forwarder customers for many years, and they often illustrate use-case scenarios that lend themselves perfectly to becoming additional SkyPallet features,” Wiremind Chief Executive Nathanael de Tarade said in the release. “Wiremind’s mission now is to create a freight forwarder SkyPallet version that offers dedicated functionalities to support their specific workflows.” Rotate launches digital capacity tool Netherlands-based strategy consultancy Rotate has launched a real-time capacity and market intelligence tool with live flight data from thousands of airlines, more than 9,000 airports and more than 200 aircraft types. “The air cargo industry has long been investing in digital and technology solutions, which have led to ever-increasing amounts of data being produced and stored every day,” Rotate co-founder Gert-Jan Jansen said in a release. “The true challenge now is not in collecting more data; it is in putting that data to good use and formulating real actions that improve commercial and operational decisions.” Rotate’s Live Capacity solution gives users real-time global capacity information based on flight-tracking data that has been “filtered, cleaned and enriched to deliver unique, real-time insight into changes and trends in air cargo capacity,” the release stated. Air cargo companies are able to obtain the tool for free, and it will eventually be enhanced with premium features, such as capacity forecasts, personalized alerts on capacity changes and additional data such as charter identification. Join Air Cargo Next for the free webinar, “The future of AI in air cargo,” on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. ET. More information about the webinar and registration is available here .

Digital Pulse: Menzies, Wizz Air conduct electric turns at BUD

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