May 20, 2026 - Electrifying Airports

This is the Telemetry Transportation Daily for May 20, 2026, and I'm Sam Abuelsamid, Vice President of Market Research for Telemetry. 

Aviation companies have been putting a huge effort into reducing carbon emissions for many years, and while they have often cited sustainability goals as the driving force, reducing fuel use to cut operating costs is probably the primary driver. Whatever the reason, the outcome is similar. But realistically, we can't expect to see zero-emissions passenger aircraft operating widely anytime in the foreseeable future. The amount of battery required to move large aircraft long distances is probably insurmountable. 

But that doesn't mean there isn't a place for electrification in the aviation business. Airports have a wide range of ground support equipment that is used to move baggage carts, cargo containers, air stairs, passenger buses, and tugs that move aircraft around. Most of these vehicles run on diesel, and they operate within a limited geographic space, which makes them ideally suited for replacement with battery-powered electric vehicles. 

Honolulu Airport in Hawaii is the latest to make a shift to electric power. Hawaiian Airlines has announced it will replace 116 ground support vehicles representing 73% of its current fleet with electric models. The Hawaii Department of Transportation has chipped in by installing 30 charging stations with 60 ports at locations around the airport, with another four stations coming by the end of the year.  Hawaiian Airlines is now part of the Alaska Airlines group, and 42% of the parent company's ground support fleet across multiple airports is now electric, and as charging equipment is deployed at other Hawaii airports, the electrification effort will expand as well. Ground transportation emissions come from all kinds of sources beyond the vehicles we drive every day, and it's good to see electrification spreading regardless of the reason. 

Thanks for listening.