Q: What is TCR’s decarbonisation strategy to reduce its carbon footprint as the aviation industry takes on the path to making net zero possible?
TCR’s primary role in the industry is as a facilitator towards much lower carbon emissions for all operators. We do this by not only providing zero-emission GSE to our customers but also through other avenues, including fleet size rationalization, facilitation of shred GSE models like pooling, and helping our customers reduce GSE. Further, all of these initiatives help reduce overall operating costs for our customers.
Q: In your opinion, which Southeast Asian Hub Airports have the edge in airport sustainability? What are the approaches these airports take to reduce GSE emissions?
We hear from our customers an overwhelming desire to implement zero-emission GSE, however, the primary barrier is a lack of charging infrastructure for the adoption of electrically powered GSE, which is available across most major GSE OEMs today. As a result, any airport that provides charging infrastructure facilitates a faster reduction in direct emissions from operations, and we encourage all airport operators to provide the infrastructure so that operators can begin shifting their GSE fleet mix toward zero emissions.
Q: What are some of the projects that TCR has completed in Asia and has planned for in 2023? What role does TCR play to help airports in Asia accelerate their strategy to reduce carbon footprint?
We continue to encourage our customers to choose electric GSE, so much so that we directly lobby on their behalf with airports in the region to provide the charging capability. Not only are we committed to ensuring we invest in GSE that is going to help reduce emissions, but we also promote the significant cost savings for our customers that can be realized.
Q: After 2 years of industry change, airport advancement, and digital acceleration, what are some of the challenges airports in Asia are facing now and how are they keeping up with their European counterparts?
From everyone I speak to in our industry, the Asia Pacific region is still on a recovery journey in 2023, with the prime variable being the impact of the reopening of the PRC. I hear of varied utilization challenges for our customers operating in the region, which is creating challenges in the balance between operational capability and operational cost. Hopefully, 2023 will be the year when the industry's operational demand stabilizes.