ABM Invests in the UK's First Electric Boarding Vehicle for Passengers with Reduced Mobility

Fully electric vehicle will deploy at Manchester Airport in December

ABM, one of the UK’s leading providers of aviation services, has taken delivery of the first of two Aviogei Thunderlift 6000E – a fully electric boarding vehicle for passengers with reduced mobility or injuries. The vehicle offers enhanced comfort and safety with its newly designed cabin and state of the art safety technology, including a unique 360 degree vision, laser and sonar guidance systems and stabilisers. 

The vehicle will be deployed in December by ABM at Manchester Airport and marks the first time this make and model of vehicle has been used in the UK for passengers with reduced mobility.

The Thunderlift is a fully electric vehicle, offering a power efficiency gain when compared to the use of an equivalent fossil fuel model, which supports both ABM’s and Manchester Airport’s carbon zero targets, while offering customers a significantly improved and more energy efficient proposition.

Jim Niblock, Managing Director at ABM Aviation, says: “Introducing the Thunderlift vehicle into our fleet at Manchester Airport reflects our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint while delivering best-in-class experience for passengers travelling with reduced mobility.”

The Thunderlift will be in service from December at Manchester Airport, with a charging facility installed airside.

Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “This new equipment underscores our commitment, and that of our partners, to an industry-leading model for sustainable operations, building on our commitment to be a net-zero airport by 2038.

“We firmly believe that travel should be accessible for everyone and are proud of our work with ABM to make that a reality for the many thousands of passengers with restricted mobility who use our airport each year. Investment in new and innovative technologies such as this can only be a positive thing for passenger experience.”

Marcio Alves Sales Manager, Aviogei Airport Equipment, said: “Aviogei is very pleased to have ABM as the first UK operator of our Thunderlift 6000E. The new equipment will not only benefit passengers with reduced mobility with more comfort and safety, but also the environment since the Thunderlift is fully electric.”