Dungannon, Northern Ireland-headquartered Mallaghan made a big splash at this year’s inter airport, unveiling with much fanfare an entirely new airport bus – said to be the world’s largest in terms of passenger capacity
Mallaghan is a rapidly expanding GSE supplier, and this move into the airport bus segment represents at important further addition to its product line that already takes in such lines as catering and cleaning trucks, medical lifts, motorised and towable passenger stairs, water and toilet service trucks and even aircraft de-icers.
At the unveiling on the Mallaghan stand at inter airport, along with a crowd of well wishers was a representative of the bus’s launch customer – Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair – to whom the keys to the first vehicle were ceremonially handed. The airline has ordered 32 Mallaghan 50W buses, with an option for a further 20.
The vehicle has a welded, fully galvanised chassis, powered by a six-cyliner diesel engine with automatic transmission. It has a hydraulic brake system benefiting from ABS anti-lock braking, and is steered by means of the hydraulic front steering axle.
The Mallaghan 50W is 15m long, 3.2m wide and 3.1m high. It can transport up to 118 passengers in accordance with the International Air Transport Association’s Air Handling Manual (AHM) 950.
Options include air conditioning in the driver’s cabin, a hydronic heating system for the driver’s cabin and passenger compartment, air curtains on the double doors and foldable seats in the passenger compartment. On-board Wi-Fi and on-board speaker system are other options.
Director Niall Mallaghan said that he was “excited, delighted and very proud” of Mallaghan’s achievements in developing the new bus. He described the moment as representing a “new generation” for Mallaghan.
In a statement, Ronan Mallaghan, the company’s managing director, notes: “The airport bus will be an excellent addition to our current brand of GSE products.”
Adrian Dunne, Ryaniar director of operation, who was at the unveiling to receive the keys to the first bus, informs that the airline worked closely with Mallaghan on the vehicle’s design, specification and delivery.
He states: “As we expand the Ryanair Group operations we expect this to be the first of many orders and look forward to working with Mallaghan, which is one of our key suppliers of ground support equipment.”
He also adds that Mallaghan offers great service, before and after sale. “They are always there when you need them,” just a phone call away, he enthuses.
Also on the Mallaghan stand was its innovative Bendi-Belt airport baggage loading system, an MPL self-propelled maintenance platform, a TA8200 de-icing unit in IDS branding and a CT6000 catering truck with TCR markings.
