In partnership with ground handler, Real Aviation, at least 50% of flights at Belo Horizonte/Confins will be supported using electric powered vehicles instead of diesel, saving 114 tons of CO2.
By the end of 2023, the intention is to expand the operation to 100%.
On the first day of the pilot project on 28 June, 10 flights were served in Confins.
With an investment of R$5.2 million in seven pieces of equipment (one tug, six tractors and two crawlers), Real Aviation will be the first company in the sector in Latin America to operate electric vehicles.
By the end of this year, the company will receive four more electric beltloaders and five electric tractors.
“We are waiting for the arrival of new equipment, which is not an easy task to import, with deadlines of up to four months,” says Adriano Bruno, CEO of Real Aviation.
The tugs have an autonomy of 30 operations and the trucks can run for eight hours without recharging. With lithium batteries, they only take two hours to fully recharge. “If necessary, we can do a partial recharge to meet extra operations,” continues Bruno.
Electric operation will reduce the company's monthly expenses by 70% compared to diesel consumption.
“Our bet is to expand our operations in other airports, towards sustainability”, adds Bruno.
The R$30 million project was developed in partnership between Real Aviation and BH Airport and aligns with LATAM Airlines Group's sustainability strategy to be a 100% carbon neutral company by 2050.
BH Airport invested R$26 million in the construction of an electrical substation and charging points to start sustainable operation, which should be extended to other companies.
After reaching 100% electric operation in Confins by 2023, LATAM intends to take it to Brasília airport in the coming years.
Jerome Cadier, CEO of LATAM Brazil, said: “This is a clear step by LATAM towards more sustainable aviation. We are already taking concrete steps at this time and in this direction, to prioritise partners with solutions that contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint. Our commitment is to move forward so that we can expand this and other initiatives to all the airports we fly to."
Leading GSE provider TLD is supplying almost all the electric vehicles for the pilot project over the next 12 months.
"TLD is proud to be heavily involved with a new project developed in partnership with Real Aviation Services and BH Airport. The project involves an investment of more than R$30 million and will exclusively serve 100% of the company’s flights in Belo Horizonte until the end of 2023," the company said in a statement on its website.
