Air Serbia and Menzies Aviation complete the first all-electric turnaround

Air Serbia, the Serbian national airline, and the British company Menzies Aviation conducted today at Belgrade Airport, for the first time in the region, the aircraft turnaround using vehicles powered exclusively by electricity. The first all-electric rotations were performed on the Air Serbia Airbus A319 aircraft, YU-APL, which departed from Belgrade to Podgorica and on the YU-APF, which departed from Belgrade to Tivat. Menzies Aviation, which took over the ground handling services for Air Serbia flights at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport from company Belgrade Airport on 5 March 2024, has a large number of electric vehicles in its fleet. The use of these specialized vehicles for aircraft pushback, baggage transport, and others, will reduce the carbon footprint in domestic aviation.

“We are extremely pleased with the successful implementation of the first all-electric turnaround at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, achieved in collaboration with Menzies Aviation. This initiative represents a step towards reducing carbon footprint. Air Serbia continuously strives for socially responsible business practices, and today's milestone confirms our dedication in that regard. We look forward to future cooperation and, together with Menzies, we will strive to have a positive impact on the entire community,” said Jiri Marek, CEO of Air Serbia.

Air Serbia and Menzies Aviation signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2023. This initiated a change in the ground handling operator at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport aimed at enhancing the level of service for the Serbian national airline, as well as providing a better passenger experience. Menzies Aviation is a leading global provider and in Belgrade, it takes care of aircraft handling services, passenger and baggage check-in, as well as boarding for Air Serbia flights.