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Fortbrand to manage pooled eGSE fleet at JFK Terminal 6

Fortbrand pushback for JFK Terminal 6 resizedFortbrand Services has been selected to manage the pooled eGSE fleet at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport’s new Terminal 6.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners (JMP) selected Fortbrand to manage the pooling model, which moves away from method of ground handlers servicing aircraft for airline customers with their own fleets, often leading to duplicate equipment, inefficiencies, airside congestion and unnecessary emissions.

At Terminal 6, each of the 10 gates will have their own set of equipment, which will be shared by ground handlers operating at the terminal in a common-use setup.

The equipment will be monitored and tracked by JMP and Fortbrand in real time to ensure operational compliance while maximising safety and efficiency.

On-site and remote charging stations will ensure equipment is fully charged while telematics software will communicate equipment’s real-time GPS location, battery life, authorised drivers, speed controls, maintenance reporting and more.

The all-electric GSE fleet at Terminal 6 will eliminate around 2,500 tons of CO2 annually by replacing diesel-powered equipment and the greater efficiency of common-use equipment.

Karen Ali, Chief Operating Officer of JFK Millennium Partners said: “Our future all-electric T6 ground fleet – monitored and maintained together with Fortbrand and our partners – will be a game changer for our airlines and underlines our company’s commitment to sustainable operating practices throughout our terminal.”

Jared Verano, CEO of Fortbrand said: “Fortbrand was founded over 40 years ago to support New York’s airports, so we are excited to partner with JMP to provide JFK T6 with essential equipment, maintenance, and fleet management services for this innovative operation.”

Terminal 6 is under construction and scheduled to open in two phases with the first gates opening next year and construction is expected to be completed in 2028.

CSI Leasing expands services with Aeroservicios USA acquisition

Photo Aeroservicios resizedIndependent equipment leasing company CSI Leasing has acquired the majority of shares in Aeroservicios USA.

Miami-headquartered Aeroservicios USA specialises in reconditioning and overhauling used GSE to new condition, as well as selling, renting and leasing new and used GSE and parts from top manufacturers.

Equipment managed by Aeroservicios USA includes baggage carts and tractors, loaders, catering trucks, dollies, forklifts, lavatory carts, stars, towbars and utility vehicles.

Gabriel Serrano, who founded the company along with his father in 1996, will remain in the company as CEO.

In addition to handling pre-owned GSE equipment, Aeroservicios USA will refurbish and remarket CSI’s off-lease GSE.

The alignment between CSI Leasing and Aeroservicios USA will provide ground handlers and airlines with GSE paired with flexible financing structures.

Aeroservicios USA operates two full shops and a storage yard in Miami totalling 579,600 square feet and has a 19,000 square foot full shop in Guatemala.

Steve Hamilton, Chairman and CEO of CSI Leasing said: “CSI has been leasing new and used GSE for nearly 10 years. Aeroservicios’ robust refurbishing experience and vast understanding of the GSE market will allow CSI to offer more competitive lease pricing and additional services to its customers.”

Serrano added: “I’m thrilled for Aeroservicios to join the CSI family and its growing team. CSI’s reputation, along with its global footprint, is unmatched in the leasing industry. Aeroservicios’ GSE experience, combined with CSI’s leasing and financing expertise, will give customers a one-stop GSE solution.”

Mercury GSE and Menzies sign GSE lease agreement

Menzies and Mercury GSE resizedMercury GSE has signed a Master Lease Agreement with Menzies Aviation to supply and maintain GSE across North America.

The agreement strengthens the partnership between the two companies by aligning Mercury GSE’s rental fleet, preventative maintenance and 24/7 support with Menzies’ expanding footprint.

It will streamline equipment availability, enhance operational efficiency and deliver consistent service standards across key markets.

Scott Bellamy, Director of GSE – Americas at Menzies Aviation said: “I’m incredibly excited for this strategic partnership and the opportunities it unlocks for Menzies Aviation as we continue to expand across North America. This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation, operational excellence, sustainability and long-term growth.”

Bob Travis, President of Mercury GSE said: “This agreement represents a major step forward for both organisations. By combining Mercury’s best-in-class fleet and comprehensive support services with Menzies Aviation’s global expertise, we’re ensuring that airlines throughout North America benefit from dependable, safe and efficient ground operations.”

Mercury GSE’s fleet support, ranging from pushbacks, cargo loaders, GPUs and APUs will play a vital role in helping Menzies Aviation to deliver reliable and consistent services.

The announcement follows the news that Menzies Aviation has doubled its footprint by finalising the $305 million acquisition of G2 Secure Staff.

Vestergaard to display fully-electric Elephant e-BETA at International GSE Expo

Elephant e-BETA Fully Electric_3 resizedVestergaard Company will unveil the Elephant e-BETA at the International GSE Expo, the fully-electric version of its Elephant BETA de-icer.

The fully-electric Elephant e-BETA will be on display at the International GSE Expo, which will be held in Las Vegas from 16-18 September.

It will be displayed on stand P330 in the outside area.

Built on a Vestergaard electrical chassis and equipped with a 145kWh lithium-ion battery, the Elephant e-BETA is designed to operate a full shift on a single charge.

All functions are fully electric for zero emissions during operations.

For airports without pre-heated fluid infrastructure, the e-BETA includes a 600 kW diesel heater that can deliver hot de-icing fluid 10-15 minutes after filling.

Stefan Vestergaard, CEO of Vestergaard Company said: “The launch of the fully electric Elephant e-BETA underlines our commitment to providing environmentally friendly, future-ready solutions for the ground support industry. We are proud to offer an aircraft de-icer that combines operational reliability with significant reductions in environmental footprint.”

The Elephant BETA was introduced in 1983 and has been upgraded with innovations over the years.

In 2019, Vestergaard Company introduced the hybrid-electric Elephant BETA, a hybrid model which can operate on electric power with the option to engage the truck engine powering a generator when additional flexibility is required.

Menzies Aviation completes $305m acquisition of G2

G2 and Menzies Aviation join forces resizedMenzies Aviation has doubled its footprint in the USA by completing the acquisition of G2 Secure Staff.

The $305 million acquisition combines G2’s expertise in ground services including passenger assistance and cabin cleaning to enhance Menzies’ ground, cargo and refuelling services.

Based on FY2024 figures, the acquisition is expected to boost Menzies Group’s revenue by 20% to more than $3.1 billion.

Menzies’ Executive Vice President Americas, John Redmond will continue to lead the region with G2’s senior management joining his team.

Hassan El-Houry, Executive Chairman of Menzies Aviation said: “Acquiring G2 is a strategic long-term investment and significant milestone in our global growth journey. It is also a direct response to customer demand for Menzies to offer a broader range of services at more airports. With US passenger volumes expected to surpass one billion by 2040 and rising airport infrastructure investment, this deal positions Menzies at the centre of the country’s aviation momentum and underscores our confidence in the resilience of the US economy and US consumer.”

The acquisition spreads Menzies’ footprint to over 110 locations including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Denver International Airport.

Philipp Joeinig, Group CEO of Menzies Aviation said: “This deal isn’t just scale for the sake of scale. It’s high-volume, high-readiness infrastructure that meets growing airline demand for seamless, multi-airport service coverage. It provides an opportunity to raise standards for aviation services across the US and globally through the roll out of our industry-leading training, safety, sustainability and technology across all new operations.”

Emirates SkyCargo selects WFS for handling services in Miami

Emirates SkyCargo B777F resizedEmirates SkyCargo has awarded Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) with a three-year contract to handle freighter operations at Miami International Airport.

WFS will provide cargo handling, ramp and mail services for Emirates’ Boeing 747 and 777 services from its facility at Building 702.

The Miami contract builds on Emirates’ partnership with WFS, which provides the airline with cargo handling services at Los Angeles, Seattle-Tacoma, New York John F. Kennedy, Houston George Bush Intercontinental, Washington Dulles and Dallas/Fort Worth airports.

Jose Canales, SVP Commercial & Business Development, Americas at WFS said: “WFS is honoured to expand our partnership with Emirates SkyCargo to include Miami, a strategic gateway connecting North America with Latin America and the Caribbean. This selection reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional service quality and operational reliability that supports Emirates SkyCargo’s global cargo network.”

Mercury GSE adds Oshkosh LEKTRO L88i to fleet

Mercury GSE adds LEKTRO L88i to fleet resizedMercury GSE has added a LEKTRO L88i from Oshkosh AeroTech to its fleet to meet demand from the FBO and private aviation sectors.

The LEKTRO L88i is available for rental and long-term lease, providing zero-emission, towbarless towing for narrow- and medium-body aircraft.

It is designed for FBOs and private aviation terminals, and can be used for military and government aviation operations.

When customers rent or lease a LEKTRO L88i from Mercury GSE, benefits include 24/7 breakdown support, real-time fleet monitoring and reporting, a dedicated support team with decades of aviation experience and flexible delivery and service options.

The L88i was demonstrated at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 airshow where it supported aircraft ranging from A-10 Warthogs and MiG-29s to the Lockheed C-121A Constellation.

Mercury GSE will exhibit the LEKTRO L88i at International GSE Expo, which is being held in Las Vegas from 16-18 September, and NBAA-BACE, which will also be held in Las Vegas from 14-16 October.

At International GSE Expo, it will be displayed at booth 3073, and it will be at booth 1419 at NBAA-BACE.

Pilot John makes mobile GSE service available nationwide

Pilot John International Mobile Service Team at Work resizedPilot John International (PJi) has made its OEM-certified mobile GSE service available nationwide, cutting downtime and boosting efficiency.

The mobile service brings OEM-trained and certified service technicians on-site to provide preventative maintenance, diagnostics, inspections and repairs directly to customers’ hangars and ramps.

Technicians come fully equipped to perform a wide range of GSE support including routine maintenance, annual inspections and diagnostics.

PJi also offers on-site equipment training to customers.

Since its launch, demand for the mobile service has increased steadily with requests to diagnose broken equipment, repair Kunz equipment and service large quantities of equipment at once.

Mobile services eliminate the need to transport GSE offsite for repairs or inspections, helping operators keep control of costs and maximise equipment uptime.

John Werner, President of Pilot John International said: “With our mobile service now available across the country, FBOs, MROs and corporate flight departments can count on PJi for responsive, high-quality maintenance and repairs that keep their operations moving.”

The mobile units are equipped with all the necessary tools and components to service both motorised and non-motorised GSE including ground power units, lavatory and water trucks, aircraft tugs, towbars and axle jacks.

Each service visit adheres to stringent servicing and testing guidelines to ensure compliance with manufacturer specifications and industry standards.

TLD supplies SAASA with GSE at Jorge Chavez Airport

SAASA GSE for Jorge Chavez new airport resizedServicios Aeroportuarios Andinos (SAASA) has finalised the acquisition of GSE worth $5.9 million for operations at the new Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru.

On Friday 20 June, SAASA took delivery of two TPX-200MTX Towbarless tractors from TLD, completing the first batch of 25 pieces of GSE and 25 pallet carrier dollies.

The delivery is part of a broader investment plan for equipment at the airport, which will continue this year.

Enrique Vargas, General Manager of SAASA said: “This investment reflects our commitment to operational safety and the use of state-of-the-art technology. We incorporate equipment with advanced telemetry systems and approach sensors, such as loaders and motorised ladders, which significantly improve safety in aircraft operation.”

GCG Barbados invests in GSE fleet

GCG Barbados invests in advanced GSE resizedGCG Barbados is investing over BBD$4 million ($2 million) in advanced GSE to support increased air traffic at Grantley Adams International Airport.

The investment will enhance the travel experience of tourists while fostering economic and workforce development in Barbados.

GCG adds that the investment highlights its role in driving sustainable growth by contributing to Barbados’ infrastructure and investing in local talent.

Cross-training programmes and expanding its seasonal workforce is bolstering GCG’s capabilities with more skilled workers than a year ago.

Ainsley Rajkumar, Cluster General Manager (South Caribbean) at GCG said: “Our focus extends beyond commercial success; it’s about creating lasting impact through excellence, skill-building, and readiness for future growth. By enhancing operational efficiency and service quality, we also contribute to a seamless and elevated experience for passengers, ensuring their journey through Barbados is as memorable a one worth repeating.”

Hadley Bourne, CEO of Grantley Adams International Airport said investing in advanced GSE aligns with the airport’s efforts to achieve operational excellence, saying: “This shared commitment to enhancing efficiency and service quality underscores the importance of collaboration among our airport community. By continuing to work together, we elevate the passenger experience and solidify our airport’s role as a gateway that reflects the best of Barbados.”

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