Menzies and Vestergaard trial electric deicing unit at Oslo Airport

Image courtesy Menzies

This is the first trial of its kind in Europe, and the second globally, marking a significant step forward in ground handling sustainability, with initial tests indicating that using the electrically driven Vestergaard Elephant® e-BETA will reduce greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, by 87% per truck each year.

Menzies Aviation and Vestergaard Company’s partnership on this trial results from their long-standing relationship, with Menzies currently operating 11 Vestergaard rigs as part of their de-icing fleet at Oslo Airport, one of the world’s busiest de-icing hubs. Menzies Oslo’s expert team of over 40 de-icing specialists have provided de-icing services since 2016, dealing with complex, large-scale operations and performing more than 5,000 turns over a typical season between the months of September to May, making Menzies the ideal partner for the trial of this innovative equipment.

Vestergaard Company is a frontrunner when it comes to sustainability within ground handling and its goal is to offer a fully sustainable version of its product line for performing CO2 neutral ground handling operations by 2030. The electrically operated Vestergaard Elephant® e-BETA is a critical part of this journey, reducing environmental footprint by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This trial complements Menzies’ ‘Go Green’ project, established in Oslo in 2018, through which Menzies has made significant investment into reduced-emissions ground handling equipment to reduce its carbon footprint, with 90% of ramp equipment replaced with modern, electric units last year. Should the trial be successful and the Vestergaard Elephant® e-BETA rolled out, 97% of Menzies’ Oslo-based ground support equipment would be electric.

Thomas Hoff Andersson, Vice President Northern Europe, Menzies Aviation, said: “We’re proud to be working with Vestergaard Company to pioneer this sustainable ground handling solution, which builds on the progress achieved through our ‘Go Green’ project. The successful trial of this electrically-driven de-icer promises to bolster not only the sustainability of our de-icing operations at Oslo Airport, but the sustainability of the industry at large.”

René Laebel from Vestergaard Company, said: “For us, Menzies has been an obvious choice of partner in testing the new sustainable unit, as both a global company and a good and trusted customer of ours over the years. Menzies Oslo provides extensive de-icing services during the challenging weather season and is committed to building more sustainable ground handling operations, so we have a common interest in the success of the new unit.”

Ole Petter Storstad, Director of Airport Services for Avinor, Oslo Airport, said: “Avinor has a goal that its own operations at Oslo Airport will be fossil-free by 2030. We are therefore pleased that our partners are working in the same direction and have a green focus when they further develop their services.”