Cebu Pacific is trialling an electric baggage tractor and charging station at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila.
The fully electric tractor will be operated as part of Cebu Pacific’s ground operations at Terminals 3 and 4. If successful, the airline intends to deploy several additional units in the future.
Currently, Cebu Pacific operates more than 100 baggage tractors to tow carts and dollies, making it one of the most significant components in its fleet of ground support equipment (GSE).
By replacing diesel-powered models with electric vehicles, the airline plans to reduce emissions and reduce the negative environmental impact of air travel.
“Our objectives for this demo run are multipronged. Since electric vehicles are a relatively new area for Cebu Pacific, we want to test the technology and its operational viability and safety. We also intend to test the demo unit for various scenarios in our ground operations, so we are deploying it for both airport operations and cargo operations over the demo period.”
The electric baggage tractor and fast charging station used in this trial have been provided by TLD Asia Limited (TLD). The tractor is equipped with lithium-ion batteries, which have a significantly longer life span compared to lead-acid batteries.
Cebu Pacific is also expecting a second electric baggage tractor to be delivered from another GSE manufacturer for deployment later this summer.
The learnings from these trials will be used to guide its long-term strategy to transition its ground transportation network to electric alternatives.
“CEB’s Scope 1 emissions come from our flights and ground operations. Although emissions from our GSEs, as part of our ground operations, are only a small portion of our total Scope 1, our decarbonisation strategy addresses the entire emissions from our value chain. This is necessary as we align with net-zero by 2050 emission reduction goals.”
As part of the airline’s electric vehicles transition programme, Cebu Pacific has also recently rolled out an electric vehicle service for employees. This includes the deployment of an electric COMET vehicle from GET Philippines, Inc.
Meanwhile, for its flight operations, the airline is taking deliveries of 10 new fuel-efficient aircraft from Airbus, alongside five additional aircraft via a long-term lease.
