Menzies Aviation has signed a six-year global framework agreement with Rushlift GSE to provide the cargo handling company with ground support equipment.

The specialist airport ground support equipment subsidiary of Doosan Industrial Vehicles UK will initially lease 650 new vehicles to Menzies Aviation’s ground handling operations at London Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

The arrangement will include the provision of a fleet of pushback tugs and HI loaders from Trepel, mobile conveyor belts and electric baggage and pushback tugs from TLD, and trailers from UK manufacturer TBD.

“This contract further underscores Rushlift GSE’s capability to support large corporations,” said Rushlift GSE’s operations director Tim Willett. “Rushlift are experts in large start-ups, as demonstrated by previous programmes, such as a recent major rollout for easyJet at Gatwick.”

Rushlift GSE said the company will also introduce electric GSE vehicles over the six-year term, as well as explore alternative fuel options, including biofuels and hydrogen.

“One of the huge advantages of being a subsidiary of Doosan is that we have access to a world-leading team of specialists dedicated to researching sustainable aviation fuels,” added Willett.

Menzies Aviation’s SVP of GSE and equipment aviation Stephen Gallagher described the reliability and uptime of the company’s ground handling equipment as “absolutely imperative to the service we provide” and that he is “confident that Rushlift GSE will provide the GSE and support we’re looking for, both here in the UK and overseas”.