KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aviation Decarbonisation Blueprint will remain as one of the major policies to facilitate the aviation industry in adopting a green transition, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
Loke said the blueprint is designed to encourage all key stakeholders including airlines and ground handlers to implement more sustainable practices in their operations.
"What we want to see is that the industry as a whole can firstly reduce costs, operate more efficiently and more importantly that it supports the environmental friendly policies which the government is undertaking.
"This will also be part of our broader national strategy to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050," he said at the launch of Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd (GTR) electric vehicle (EV) baggage tractors here today.
Aviation ground services provider GTR's first fleet of EV baggage tractors are for use at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
The launch marks the deployment of 20 baggage tractors under the first phase of a planned 60-unit rollout.
This represents the largest deployment of EVs in Malaysia's aviation industry to date, underlining GTR's leadership in sustainable ground operations.
Loke said the delivery of GTR's first 20 electric baggage tractors will see an estimated reduction of 1,029 tonnes of CO2 emissions over the period of a year.
In the next one and the half years, he said GTR will have a total of 60 electric baggage tractors in operation, representing half of its 119 baggage tractors currently powered by diesel at airports across the country.
"I was informed that the electric baggage tractors will result in 66.7 per cent reduction in carbon emission and 43.5 per cent savings in fuel cost per vehicle," he said.
GTR chief executive officer Musdalifa Abdullah said the deployment marks a significant step forward in its sustainability journey and aligns with the ministry's Aviation Decarbonisation Blueprint.
Musdalifa said the company is actively exploring ways to expand its use of electric ground service equipment and incorporate more green energy solutions across our operations.
"Our goal is to continuously reduce our carbon footprint while enhancing operational efficiency, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future for aviation in Malaysia.
"This initiative positions GTR at the forefront of green initiatives in Malaysia's aviation sector, demonstrating our commitment to driving positive change in the industry," he added.