In-flight catering service Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) has agreed to purchase 53 aircraft catering trucks, with this AED 60 million (c. £12 million) investment forming part of its ‘extensive ground fleet renewal programme’.
This wider initiative is set to introduce 120 next-generation vehicles to EKFC’s fleet over the course of five years. In total, 92 aircraft catering trucks are due to be added to the EKFC fleet within the next 12 months, with the first vehicles slated for introduction later this year.
The manufacturers that EKFC has made agreements with are Volvo Trucks, Mallaghan and Al-Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (FAMCO). The new Volvo FL 250 4X2 Euro 6 aircraft catering trucks will feature ‘advanced sensors and monitoring systems to enhance efficiencies on the ground for loading and unloading tasks, in addition to improving overall emissions reductions with the adoption of the latest Euro diesel engine technologies’.
EKFC is also planning to ‘closely collaborate’ with all three manufacturers on a ‘proof-of-concept electric aircraft catering truck’, which would be the first in its fleet, and in the region. These trucks would be optimised for ground catering operations at Dubai International Airport, and EKFC anticipates they could be in operation from the summer of 2026.
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Shahreyar Nawabi, EKFC’s CEO, commented: “We are excited to embark on the complete modernisation of our fleet of aircraft catering trucks.
“This fleet investment is a key part of our broader strategy to implement industry leading initiatives, keep pace with ever-growing demand, and strengthen EKFC’s value proposition to our airline customers as a dedicated culinary partner delivering exceptional operational performance at our busy Dubai hub.
“It also reflects our strong confidence in the long-term growth prospects and continued market leadership of Dubai’s aviation sector.
“We’re also investing in the latest technologies and working closely with Mallaghan and Volvo Trucks to empower a future towards a fully electrified aircraft catering truck fleet, enabling us to reduce our carbon footprint while continuing to deliver top-notch operational performance on the ground.
“The integration of the first electric aircraft catering truck next summer will mark a milestone for EKFC, reinforcing our commitment to more sustainable operations and pushing the boundaries of innovation.”
Currently operating a fleet of 300 aircraft catering trucks, EKFC also operates ‘the largest flight catering facility in the world’ in Dubai, with a production capacity of over 250,000 meals per day serving more than 100 airline customers.
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