Airport Ground Support Equipment: 5 Fuel Alternatives

Reducing carbon footprint is a key initiative across many industries. Several organizations are taking steps to minimize environmental impact, comply with regulatory requirements, and meet growing customer expectations for sustainability. One such industry is the aviation industry, specifically airports.

Airports are not a 9-to-5 operation. From baggage tractors hauling luggage to pushback tugs maneuvering aircraft, to de-icing machines, aircraft refueling trucks, and lavatory service vehicles, airports rely on ground support equipment (GSE) to keep operations running reliably 24/7/365.

For decades, the majority of GSE has been powered by diesel and gasoline, contributing to emissions and noise that affect airport employees, passengers, and surrounding communities. But that’s changing — and for the better.

With mounting pressure to cut emissions and stricter regulatory standards, airports are increasingly turning to alternative fuels to power their ground operations safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Transitioning to cleaner, greener alternatives for GSE not only reduces environmental impact, it lowers long-term operating costs through fuel and maintenance savings while extending equipment life.

5 Fuel Options Shaping Airport Ground Equipment Support

Airports of every size and type — including commercial service, primary, cargo, reliever, and general aviation — are beginning to adopt fuel alternatives. Let’s take a closer look at five options powering this transition and how they’re helping airports reduce their environmental footprint and meet sustainability goals.

Electric GSE

Electric GSE is leading the charge with battery-powered baggage tractors, belt loaders, and pushback tugs becoming increasingly common at major airport hubs. The advantages of electric GSE over diesel and gasoline are immediate:

• Zero tailpipe emissions for cleaner air
• Quieter operations for reduced noise pollution
• Lower fuel and maintenance costs due to simpler, more efficient powertrains

Despite these advantages, challenges remain.

Similar to electric vehicles, charging time and battery range are key concerns, especially since airport operations run around the clock. The good news is that advances in charging technology are rapidly improving battery charging speed and range, making electric GSE an increasingly attractive option for large airports.

Natural Gas

Many airports are turning to compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power shuttle buses and other GSE. While natural gas is still a fossil fuel, it burns cleaner than diesel, producing fewer pollutants and improving air quality.

CNG and LNG-powered GSE often deliver lower fuel costs and reduced maintenance requirements compared to diesel, making operations more efficient, reliable, and sustainable.   

Renewable Diesel

Renewable diesel — also called hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) — offers airports a fast, practical transition to alternative fuels, as it’s a “drop-in” replacement for petroleum diesel. The reason is that it’s nearly chemically identical to petroleum diesel; therefore, renewable diesel can be used in existing GSE engines with no modifications required. This provides airports with immediate advantages, including:

• Lower emissions from day one
• Air quality improvements
• No new systems or retraining required for crews
• A practical bridge toward full electrification — with the option to power part or all of the GSE fleet

Renewable diesel is not without drawbacks. Availability and cost vary by region, and because its production relies on feedstocks such as waste, cooking oils, animal fats, and specialty crops, the supply is more limited than that of petroleum diesel. However, production is scaling quickly, with federal and state incentives promoting its adoption and benefiting airports and GSE.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Demand for hydrogen fuel cells is increasing as airports look for alternatives to power heavy-duty GSE that’s challenging to electrify with batteries. For example, pushback tractors, cargo loaders, and shuttle buses require long duty cycles, high power, and quick turnaround times that strain batteries.

Fuel cells combine hydrogen with oxygen from the air to generate electricity, with only water vapor and heat as byproducts. Instead of storing energy in heavy batteries, hydrogen GSE carries compressed hydrogen tanks that can be refueled in minutes — much like diesel.

Advantages include:

• Fast refueling for less downtime
• Longer range and high power for GSE that needs more endurance
• Zero emissions — only water vapor is released
• Reduced noise compared to diesel engines
• Smooth transition for crews since refueling is similar to diesel

Few airports currently have on-site hydrogen fueling stations, and installation costs are high. That said, hydrogen fuel cells are emerging as a reliable power source for heavy-duty GSE where batteries may fall short, making them a strong complement to future electrification.

Hybrid Systems

Hybrid systems combine the benefits of traditional combustion engines with electrical drive systems, providing airports with a bridge solution between fossil fuels and fully-electric or hydrogen-powered GSE.

Hybrid systems are best suited for equipment with variable duty cycles, high idling times, and moderate to heavy workloads such as baggage tractors, belt loaders, pushback tractors, and ground power units.

Advantages of hybrid GSE include:

• 20-40% reduced fuel consumption compared to diesel GSE
• Significant reduction in emissions
• Operational flexibility with the capability to run on battery or engine power
• Reduced idle time, as hybrids can shut off the engine when idling and use stored battery power to run systems
• Lower maintenance costs with electric components that reduce wear and tear on the engine and brakes

While these benefits make hybrids an attractive option, there are still several challenges and considerations that airports should keep in mind before widespread adoption, including:

• More expensive than diesel equipment, though lower operating costs can offset upfront costs
• Charging infrastructure is still necessary, but less intensive than fully electric fleets
• Crews require hybrid-specific training
• Not a permanent solution, but more of a transition to fully-electric or hydrogen-powered GSE 

Selecting the Right Fuel for Your Airport Ground Support Equipment

Cleaner, greener, and more cost-effective alternatives for powering GSE are here to stay. While no single solution fits every airport’s needs, each contributes to sustainability goals, reduces fuel and operational costs, and strengthens long-term operations and public trust.

The green GSE transition won’t happen overnight — but innovation is accelerating — and every small step forward brings airports and the aviation industry closer to achieving big goals.

Looking for more sustainability tips? Read our blog ‘How Airports Can Meet Sustainability Goals’ to learn more.