Rushlift GSE, specialist airport ground support equipment subsidiary of Doosan Industrial Vehicles UK, has won the Airside Operations category for International Airport Review Awards 2018.
The award winners were announced in the December 2018 issue of the International Airport Review, claiming Rushlift GSE’s win is due to its ‘ground-breaking’ contract which supplies easyJet with 449 items of ground support equipment for the airline’s London Gatwick operations.
Tim Willett, operations director of GSE for Rushlift, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be judged the winner of the airside operations category for the highly acclaimed International Airport Review Awards. This is a fantastic achievement for the whole team.”
In one of the largest ground services change in recent years, easyJet has increased flexibility and de-risked ground operations at London Gatwick by separating out the Ground Handling from the Ground Support Equipment, which is in the contract with Rushlift GSE.
Ground service operations are typically sub-contracted to specialist organisations that provide both labour and ground support equipment, but in 2017 easyJet decided to lease ground support equipment directly, bringing in contractors that would supply labour resources only. This was a radical move and a first for the sector.
Anne-Marie McKenna, editor of International Airport Review, congratulated Rushlift, saying its submission highlighted their forward-thinking approach and willingness to adapt to a changing industry. Ms McKenna said she looks forward to seeing what the future holds for this pioneering company.
