Sustainable Ground Handling at BER

For the second time, WISAG Aviation hosted an event around the "Ready for Green" sustainability initiative. The aim of the event was to once again draw attention to the topic of emissions reduction. At the same time, the company took stock: in 2023, 40 tons of CO2 were saved at BER through more than 1,200 CO2-neutral handling operations. The electrically powered apron fleet was expanded from 40 to 55 percent. The media and airline partners were able to see the results for themselves "live" during a CO2-neutral check-in.

On August 31, 2023, a media and customer event was held at Berlin Brandenburg Airport under the motto "Sustainable Ground Handling". With this event, WISAG Aviation is following up on the successful kick-off event of the "Ready for Green" sustainability initiative from 2021. This time, too, the participants had the opportunity to be present "live" at a CO2-neutral ground handling of an Air France aircraft.

A turnaround process is considered CO2-neutral if all the equipment needed for the "turnaround" produces no emissions. This includes baggage tugs and conveyors, passenger stairs, push-back vehicles and ground power units.

Paul Edwards, "Ready for Green" project manager at WISAG Aviation: "The project has been gathering momentum throughout Germany since July 2021: Started in Berlin, we have now been able to successfully implement "Ready for Green" at three further locations. This exceeds our expectations. Depending on the nature of the infrastructure, we can handle cargo in a CO2-reduced or completely CO2-neutral manner. At BER, the starting position is ideal, with 55 percent of our apron fleet now powered by electricity. This saves an average of 33 kilograms of CO2 per handling operation, and by 2023 alone, that figure will already be 40 metric tons."

Berlin Brandenburg Airport was represented as infrastructure provider by Thomas Hoff Andersson, Managing Director Operations: "The airport company is committed to sustainable corporate management. Electric ground handling reduces emissions and is therefore the future-oriented way forward for an airport. We therefore very much welcome WISAG's commitment to BER as a pioneer on this path."

In addition to Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, the "Ready for Green" sustainability initiative is also being implemented at the Frankfurt an Main, Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf sites. "Ready for Green" is an important component of the Group-wide WISAG sustainability strategy, which includes achieving CO2 neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in 2024. Until then, the family-run multi-service company will offset emissions that cannot be avoided or reduced through certified climate protection projects.

"Sustainability is a top priority for us at WISAG. Because in addition to the pure reduction in emissions, our employees also benefit from the use of electric apron equipment, as it is much quieter and produces almost no pollutants. Through action days like today, we want to raise awareness of this important issue among our participants," emphasizes Angela Stuhr, CFO of WISAG Aviation.

Further ambitious targets are planned for 2024 as part of the "Ready for Green" program. Recycling will be a particular focus here, for example the reprocessing of deicing fluid and waste management in cabin cleaning.
 

For further information about the growth industries, economic development, business and technology support for companies, investors and scientific institutions in the Airport Region Berlin Brandenburg please contact:

Sandra Koletzki ​​​​​​ | sandra.koletzki(at)airport-region.de

(Source: WISAG Aviation Service Holding SE, 08|31|2023 | "WISAG Aviation takes positive stock after two years of "Ready for Green")