Dnata deploys four new electric buses at Rome Airport

Ground handler dnata is expanding its fleet at Rome Fiumicino Airport with four electric buses from manufacturer Cobus. The vehicles are set to transport passengers between terminals and aircraft starting mid-November.

23 of dnata's 40 passenger buses at Rome Fiumicino Airport already operate electrically.

Image: dnata

The international ground handling service provider dnata continues to invest in the electrification of its vehicle fleet in Italy. At Rome Fiumicino Airport, four fully electric apron buses of the VEGA model by Cobus are set to enter service by mid-November. According to the company, dnata will be the first ground handler to deploy this new model.

These electric buses have been specifically developed for use on airport aprons and are designed to transport passengers between terminals and aircraft. dnata states that they offer a higher passenger capacity than conventional airport buses. Redesigned doors are said to speed up boarding and alighting, while improved air conditioning enhances comfort. The company has not disclosed details about battery capacity, range or charging power.

With these four new additions, the bus fleet at Fiumicino Airport will expand beyond its current 40 vehicles. Of these, 23 are already electrically powered. The new vehicles are intended to make apron handling more efficient and keep aircraft turnaround times as short as possible.

More than 60 per cent of the fleet now electric

The purchase is part of a comprehensive modernisation programme in which dnata has invested more than €30 million euros over the past three years. During this period, more than 550 new ground handling equipment units have been acquired at Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate airports. These include passenger buses, as well as baggage tractors, conveyor belts, passenger stairs, aircraft loaders and pushback tractors.

In total, dnata operates more than 1,000 motorised ground handling equipment units at the three Italian airports. Over 60 per cent of these are now electrically powered. Where full electrification is not yet operationally feasible, the company is gradually converting diesel-powered equipment to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

According to dnata, further electrification also depends on the expansion of charging infrastructure at the airports. The company is working with the respective airport operators to achieve this. In Italy, dnata employs around 5,000 people and serves more than 60 airlines. At its three locations, the company handles over 150,000 flights, 46 million passengers and nearly 18 million pieces of baggage annually.