Freightquip and Western Sydney International Airport partner to deliver Australia’s first GSE pooling operation
Freightquip has partnered with Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) to deliver the ground support equipment (GSE) operation at Australia’s newest international airport, which will see WSI become the first Australian airport to operate an airport-wide GSE pooling programme.
Commencing full operations in October 2026, WSI will have the highest proportion of electric ground support equipment of any airport nationally, establishing a new benchmark for airport ground operations.
Under the partnership, Freightquip will supply and operate a GSE fleet covering the complete scope of airside operations, including baggage handling, cargo loading and aircraft movement. The fleet is predominantly electric, covering key airside functions including belt loaders, cargo loaders, baggage tractors and pushback equipment. Fleet operations will be managed through a single digital platform providing real-time visibility, automated dispatch and full integration with WSI’s Flight Information System, supported by a dedicated Freightquip maintenance team on site.
GSE pooling consolidates the entire ground equipment fleet into a single managed operation shared across all ground handlers, rather than each handler managing equipment independently. For WSI, it means the airport opens with a coordinated, efficient and sustainable ground operation from day one, and it positions WSI as the reference site for airports seeking to modernise their ground operations and reduce the environmental impact of airside activity.
Andrew Steel, COO and Head of Aviation Operations at Freightquip, said the project is an opportunity to set a new standard for the industry.
“We have deployed and maintained electric GSE fleets across some of the world’s leading airports and airlines, and we are genuinely excited to bring that experience to WSI. To provide an advanced GSE pooling operation at a brand new airport is something our team is incredibly proud to be part of. We see WSI as the beginning of a much bigger shift in how the industry approaches ground operations globally.”
Simon Hickey, Chief Executive Officer of Western Sydney International Airport, said the partnership reflects the opportunity that comes with building a new airport.
“When we set out to design the ground operation at WSI, we knew we had an opportunity to do something that had never been done before, given our status as a greenfield international airport. GSE pooling was the right model for a new airport, and electrification was the right commitment for the industry. By combining GSE pooling with a predominantly electric fleet, WSI is modernising ground operations, improving fleet utilisation, safety and ultimately reducing the environmental impact of our operations.”
Western Sydney International Airport is scheduled to open in November 2026.
Freightquip has supplied specialised ground support equipment to Australian and New Zealand aviation for 25 years and serves major airports and airlines across the region, including Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand and the Royal Australian Air Force.