JFK Airport Terminal 6 to launch pooled electric ground fleet in landmark sustainability partnership

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners (JMP), the company selected to build and operate John F. Kennedy International Airport’s new Terminal 6 (T6), have announced a partnership with Long Island-based Fortbrand Services LLC to manage the terminal’s future all-electric ground support equipment (e-GSE) fleet. The terminal will use a pooled system, making JFK the first airport in North America where new terminals offer shared e-GSE. This is a major step in the Port Authority’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The all-electric T6 ground support fleet is expected to cut about 2,500 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year, the equivalent of driving a petrol car 6 million miles. The reductions will come from replacing diesel-powered equipment with electric alternatives and from efficiencies gained through common-use equipment. Currently, airlines in the United States use their own ground-handling providers, which supply duplicate equipment, causing congestion, inefficiencies and unnecessary emissions.

At T6, each of the 10 gates will have a set of electric ground support equipment, shared by ground handlers in a pooled system. The fleet will be monitored by JMP and Fortbrand in real time to ensure safety and operational compliance. A mix of on-site and remote charging stations will maintain power, while telematics software will track GPS location, battery life, authorised drivers, speed limits, maintenance needs and more.

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said: “The Port Authority’s nation-leading commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 includes a transition to the use of all commercially available zero emission ground support equipment at the region’s airports. The agreement between JFK Millennium Partners and Fortbrand to serve Terminal 6 with shared electric ground support equipment represents an exciting step toward reaching our goal.”

Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole added: “Two years ago, when the Port Authority launched its ambitious goal of net-zero emissions, we understood that success would require tapping new technology, including electric ground support equipment. It’s fitting that our new airline terminals designed to be among the best in the world will also be leaders in our drive to reduce the agency’s carbon footprint.”

JMP CEO Steve Thody said: “We are thrilled to debut this innovative shared electric ground services programme, which will not only revolutionise the way ground handling is done at JFK airport, but at other airports across the country, as well.”

JMP Chief Operating Officer Karen Ali said: “At JFK T6, gone are the days of unnecessary duplication of ground-handling equipment, which translates into additional CO2 emissions and inefficient aircraft operations. Our future all-electric T6 ground fleet, monitored and maintained together with Fortbrand and our partners, will be a game changer for our airlines and underlines our company’s commitment to sustainable operating practices throughout our terminal.”

Fortbrand CEO Jared Verano said: “Fortbrand was founded over 40 years ago to support New York’s airports, so we are excited to partner with JMP to provide JFK T6 with essential equipment, maintenance, and fleet management services for this innovative operation.”

Other sustainability measures at T6 include high-efficiency building systems, 4,000 solar panels, stormwater capture and reuse, and 90 per cent waste diversion through recycling of asphalt, concrete, steel and other materials. Together, these features aim to secure LEED and ENVISION Gold certifications for the terminal, widely regarded as benchmarks for sustainable infrastructure.

The e-GSE fleet supports the Port Authority’s net-zero roadmap, which includes solar energy, building decarbonisation, electric vehicle fleets and sustainable construction. In 2022, the Port Authority introduced a zero-emission airside vehicle rule, requiring all commercially available ground service equipment at its airports to be zero-emission by 2030. So far, 1,504 pieces of e-GSE have been deployed at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports. This number will grow with the openings of T6 and New Terminal One in 2026, both of which will operate pooled e-GSE fleets.

The project is part of a wider $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport. The JFK Vision Plan, announced in 2017, laid out a complete redevelopment strategy. Current projects include the $9.5 billion Terminal One, under construction since 2022, and the $4.2 billion Terminal 6, which began in 2023 and will connect with Terminal 5 to form an anchor terminal on the airport’s north side. Delta’s $1.5 billion expansion of Terminal 4 is nearly complete, while American Airlines’ $400 million expansion of Terminal 8 was finished in 2022.

These privately funded terminal projects, together with Port Authority investments in roadways, parking and infrastructure, make up the $19 billion redevelopment. The Port Authority is contributing $3.9 billion, leveraging more than $15 billion in private investment at a ratio of nearly four to one.

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