Bristol Airport has been named the best transport hub in Europe for innovative green initiatives, it has announced.
The airport was awarded the accolade jointly with Istanbul Airport in Turkey at the Best Airport Awards 2022, which are run by A CI Europe - the professional association of airport operators.
The Eco Innovation Award recognises airports’ "outstanding" environmental projects and is presented in association with Airport Carbon Accreditation.
Bristol Airport said it scooped the prize for its Low Emission Turnaround trial with easyJet as part of its Strategic Sustainability Partnership.
In October last year, easyJet and Bristol Airport announced they had achieved close to zero emission aircraft turnarounds through the use of electric-powered ground equipment, such as steps, baggage trollies, belt loaders and ground power units, instead of diesel. The airport said the trial results showed a 97% reduction in CO2 emissions.
The judges of the awards said the objective of Bristol to show carbon savings could be achieved without compromising operational efficiency was "a notable starting point", given the challenge of reducing scope three emissions (emissions caused as a result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organisation).
Simon Earles, sustainability and corporate affairs director at Bristol Airport said: “We are delighted to be recognised by ACI and winning the Eco Innovation award. This award supports our long-term sustainability strategy and is another example of demonstrating our commitment to addressing climate change.
“This award is such an incredible achievement and is recognition to the teams and partners collaborating and making a significance change to aircraft ground operations."
Mr Earles said the teams at easyJet and Bristol Airport, and partners including DHL, TCR, ITW, Up and Away, "worked tirelessly" to get the initiative "from inception to reality" and reduced aircraft turnaround emissions.
He added: "I am extremely proud of our efforts, and we are receiving this award on behalf of all teams involved. It’s another step on our way to becoming one of the UK’s most sustainable airports."
The news follows an announcement on Tuesday (June 21) that Bristol Airport would become part of major new South West hydrogen group. Nine organisations in the region, including Bristol Port and Airbus, are planning to work together as part of efforts to decarbonise industry and drive regional growth.
It also comes just days after campaigners trying to stop Bristol Airport's multi-million pound expansion plans were granted a High Court hearing to challenge the decision. Bristol Airport was granted permission on appeal in February to expand.
Under the plans the airport will be able to increase its current capacity from 10 million to 12 million passengers a year, while adding thousands more parking spaces. It is yet to hit the current cap and before the pandemic fewer than nine million passengers used the airport.
Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN), however, raised arguable grounds following the planning inspectorate's decision to allow the expansion. The expansion is also opposed by Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council, and the West of England Combined Authority (Weca)
However, the CBI, one of the UK's biggest business organisations, has backed the airport's plans, saying it will boost the economy in the South West - and create "more opportunities" for the region.
Ben Rhodes, CBI South West Director, said: “Bristol Airport’s expanded capacity will create opportunities for the South West’s world-class businesses, with the potential for new routes giving our region more direct connections and opening up new markets."
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