Wizz Air brings unprecedented innovation to Budapest Airport

At Budapest Airport, ground handling for certain flights will be conducted entirely using electric means.

Green innovation in Budapest

Budapest Airport and its primary service partner, Menzies Aviation, held a joint press conference, where they announced that the airport in the Hungarian capital is implementing an environmentally friendly innovation based on the charging infrastructure for the electrical equipment provided at the airport.

Menzies aims to have 25% of its assets powered by renewable energy by 2025. Hungarian-owned Wizz Air has joined this initiative. The airline will receive support from electric baggage tractors and belt loaders, passenger stairs equipped with solar panels, ground power units, push-back vehicles, drinking water and toilet units. These changes will enhance energy efficiency and operational performance.

Roadster.hu notes that electric ground handling can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% per aircraft compared to diesel-powered equipment.

Wizz Air is the first to embrace this change

“We are the first airline at Budapest Airport to fully electrify our ground handling services, all thanks to our collaboration with Menzies Aviation. We aim to demonstrate our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint by an additional 25% by 2030. Our aircraft based in Budapest consist exclusively of Airbus A321neo aircraft, renowned for their exceptional environmental performance, enabling us to operate with the lowest carbon intensity in Europe. We also recognise the significance of reducing indirect emissions and welcome Menzies Aviation’s transition from diesel to electric ground support equipment. As the largest operator at Budapest Airport, we look forward to continuing our collaboration with local partners to discover innovative solutions that will assist us in achieving our objectives as part of a broader industry-wide endeavour,” stated Yvonne Moynihan, Director of Sustainability at Wizz Air.

Wizz Air operates fourteen aircraft in Budapest, all of which are narrow-body Airbus A321neo aircraft. In the financial year 2023, the airline achieved its lowest-ever carbon intensity of 53.8 grams of carbon dioxide per passenger-kilometre, setting an industry record.